Usefulness of the Computed Tomography Venography for Evaluation of Leg Edema Including Deep Vein Thrombosis in Rehabilitation Patients.
10.5535/arm.2014.38.6.812
- Author:
Ji Hea CHANG
1
;
Ho Jun LEE
;
Jae Hyun KWON
;
Gi Hyeong RYU
;
Heebong MOON
;
Changjae KIM
;
Ki Yeon NAM
;
Bum Sun KWON
Author Information
1. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea. hjrhee1@dumc.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Computed tomography;
Edema;
Venography;
Venous thrombosis
- MeSH:
Abdomen;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Edema*;
Femoral Vein;
Humans;
Leg*;
Ligaments;
Pelvis;
Phlebography*;
Rehabilitation*;
Retrospective Studies;
Ultrasonography;
Venous Thrombosis*
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2014;38(6):812-820
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
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. CONCLUSION: 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.
