title: The diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance venography in the detection of deep venous thrombosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To search the literature for further evidence for the use of magnetic resonance venography (MRV) in the detection of suspected DVT and to re-evaluate the accuracy of MRV in the detection of suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched. Study quality and the risk of bias were evaluated using the QUADAS 2. A random effects meta-analysis including subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search resulted in 23 observational studies all from academic centres. Sixteen articles were included in the meta-analysis. The summary estimates for MRV as a diagnostic non-invasive tool revealed a sensitivity of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 89% to 95%) and specificity of 96% (95% CI: 94% to 97%). The heterogeneity of the studies was high. Inconsistency (I2) for sensitivity and specificity was 80.7% and 77.9%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies investigating the use of MRV in the detection of suspected DVT did not offer further evidence to support the replacement of ultrasound with MRV as the first-line investigation. However, MRV may offer an alternative tool in the detection/diagnosis of DVT for whom ultrasound is inadequate or not feasible (such as in the obese patient).
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4940 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abdalla
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4940 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fawzi Matuk
authors.affiliation: The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venugopal
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verde
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4940 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Magnuson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4940 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4940 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Electronic address: ksteele3@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult