title: Diagnosing deep vein thrombosis.
abstract: In this article, we discuss the approach for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in different patient populations. Clinical features and probability assessment guide further diagnostic tests. D-dimer testing is used as screening test; however, duplex ultrasound remains the primary confirmatory test. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are used only in select patient populations, such as when ultrasound results are equivocal, in patients suspected of central venous DVT, or as a part of combined protocol for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Contrast phlebography and plethysmography do not have much of a role during routine diagnosis of DVT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. bsomarouthu@partners.org
authors.forename: Bhanusupriya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Somarouthu
authors.forename: Suhny
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbara
authors.forename: Sanjeeva P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kalva
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010690:Phlebography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010991:Plethysmography; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015995:Prevalence; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D