title: Duplex investigations in children: Are clinical signs in children with venous disorders relevant?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ultra sound colored duplex sonography is the preferred method in diagnosing chronic venous disease. Data in children on incidence, indications, and results are lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the total of 9180 duplex investigations performed in our hospital from 2009 to 2012, data on indication and results of the investigation as well as patient characteristics were evaluated retrospectively for the proportion of pediatric patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Duplex investigations were performed 49 times in 38 children (6-18 years), with an average of 1.3 times (1-6 times) per child. Forty percent showed abnormalities: 17 times deep venous thrombosis was suspected; deep venous thrombosis was objectified in 18%. In the 21 investigations performed for varicosis-related complaints, varicose veins or venous malformations were objectified in 57%. Edema was never a symptom of chronic venous disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Duplex investigation is not often performed in children. In children with established deep venous thrombosis, a family history with deep venous thrombosis is common. In general, edema was not seen in children with varicose veins and, therefore, does not seem a reliable clinical sign at young age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands BMaessen@rijnstate.nl.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birgitte Maessen-Visch
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smeets
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Vleuten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Duplex; deep venous thrombosis; edema; venous disorders in children