title: Ultrasonography and diagnosis of venous thromboembolism.
abstract: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) consists of two related conditions: pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Objective testing for VTE is crucial because the clinical diagnosis is nonspecific and insensitive, and the consequences of a missed diagnosis are serious. The purpose of this review is to discuss the utility of venous ultrasonography as the foundation for diagnosis of acute lower extremity DVT. The effectiveness and practicality of venous ultrasonography as a stand-alone examination versus theoretically attractive, but perhaps less practical, combined approaches of ultrasonography with clinical probability assessment and D-dimer testing in the diagnosis of acute DVT is also addressed. Finally, the role of venous ultrasonography in a diagnostic algorithm for suspected PE is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. brendaz@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Brenda K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Zierler
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010992:Plethysmography, Impedance; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D