[Digital ultrasonic diagnosis of lower leg venous thrombosis using harmonic imaging and cross beam technology].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the extent to which Tissue Harmonic Imaging (THI) and spatial averaging (Sono-CT, Cross Beam) facilitate the diagnosis of lower leg venous thrombosis.


METHODS
In 100 cases of lower leg venous thrombosis, the conventional B-scan, THI, and ultrasonic CT technology (Cross Beam) in examinations using a multi-frequency transducer head (9 - 14 MHz, Logiq 9, GE) were compared during follow-up studies using compression sonography over at least 6 weeks. Two independent examiners performed digital image documentation (PACS connection) without modifying the gray level parameters optimized in the B-scan. A thrombosis was considered to be proven sonographically if at least one ultrasonic modality yielded findings reproducible in follow-up checks at a comparable site in accordance with both examiners.


RESULTS
Thromboses in the V. tibialis posterior category (97 %) and the fibular category (81 %) were found most often, followed by muscular venous thromboses (48 %). Thromboses in the V. tibialis anterior category were rare (12 %). The procedure comparison showed an advantage for ultrasonic CT technology in terms of the demarcation of thromboses of the deeper veins (sensitivity 98 %), as compared to THI (sensitivity 87 %, specificity 91 %, PPV: 99 %) and the B-scan (sensitivity 81 %).


CONCLUSIONS
If a high-resolution linear transducer is used, THI and ultrasonic CT-Technology can facilitate the diagnosis of a lower leg venous thrombosis.
Jung
E
E
Radiologie, Klinikum Passau. emjung@web.de
Kubale
R
R
Jungius
K-P
KP
Clevert
D-A
DA
Herold
T
T
Jung
F
F
Tacke
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*