title: Usefulness of the computed tomography venography for evaluation of leg edema including deep vein thrombosis in rehabilitation patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the usefulness of computed tomography venography (CTV) for evaluation of leg swelling, especially deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in rehabilitation patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hundred twenty-three patients, who had performed CTV performed because of suspected DVT in our clinic, were enrolled. We performed chart reviews retrospectively and categorized CTV findings as follows: DVT distal to inguinal ligament and no compression lesion; DVT proximal to inguinal ligament and no compression lesion; DVT distal to inguinal ligament and anatomical variant (for example, May-Thurner syndrome); DVT due to compression of mass (cancer or cyst); DVT and other incidental abnormal finding; and no DVT and other possible causes of leg swelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DVTs were found in 65 (53%) patients. DVTs were found at distal level (thigh or lower leg) to inguinal ligament in 47 patients. DVTs were found at proximal to inguinal ligament, usually undetectable with duplex ultrasonography, in 6 patients. DVTs caused by external compression, such as femoral vein and cancer mass, were found in 12 patients (10%), which are also not easily detected with duplex ultrasonography. Other various causes of leg edema without DVT were found in 22 (18%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CTV can evaluate more extensively venous problems in the pelvis and abdomen and detect other possible causes of leg swelling. Therefore, CTV can be a useful tool not only for easy detection of DVT but also for evaluating differential diagnosis of leg edema in rehabilitation patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hea
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Gi Hyeong
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Heebong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Changjae
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Yeon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Bum Sun
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kwon
keywords: Computed tomography; Edema; Venography; Venous thrombosis