title: The E point: a new echographic great saphenous identification sign in specific anatomical variants and applications.
abstract: Objective To describe a new ultrasound marker of the Great Saphenous Vein at the groin. Method An ultrasound marker of the Great Saphenous Vein was identified as follows: the Great Saphenous Vein was tracked in cross-sectionally starting from the Sapheno Femoral Junction and optimally visualized where it crosses the Adductor Longus muscle, i.e., 3-5 cm below the junction. This marker, corresponding to a very superficial position of Great Saphenous Vein, was named "E Point," where E means easy to find. The search for the E point was performed on 230 limbs of 126 subjects with or without chronic venous insufficiency (training population) and the method was validated in 58 subjects (testing population). Results The E point was successfully recorded in 128/144 (89%) pathologic and in 85/86 (99%) healthy limbs. Being free from other structures, at the E point the Great Saphenous Vein was always easily calibrated. In 17 cases, the E point could not be identified due to an hypoplasic Great Saphenous Vein; in such instances, the Anterior Accessory Saphenous Vein was well evident and substituted for the Great Saphenous Vein as the main draining vein at the groin. Conclusion The E point identifies the Great Saphenous Vein in healthy and varicose patients. Failure to identify the E point indicates Anterior Accessory Saphenous Vein dominance over a hypoplasic Great Saphenous Vein.
authors.affiliation: Centro di Flebologia, Area di Geriatria, Università Campus Bio-medico di Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Centro di Flebologia, Area di Geriatria, Università Campus Bio-medico di Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Centro di Flebologia, Area di Geriatria, Università Campus Bio-medico di Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrini
authors.affiliation: Centro di Flebologia, Area di Geriatria, Università Campus Bio-medico di Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Isaura
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rossi Bartoli
authors.affiliation: Centro di Flebologia, Area di Geriatria, Università Campus Bio-medico di Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antonelli Incalzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Great Saphenous Vein echography; Great Saphenous Vein hypoplasia; anterior accessory saphenous vein; saphenous calibration; saphenous ultrasound marker