Efficacy of Multi-slice Helical CT Venography for the Diagnosis of Deep Venous Thrombosis: Comparison with Venous Sonography

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of contrast enhanced multi-slice helical CT (MSCT) venography for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in comparison with venous sonography.

Materials And Methods: MSCT was used to obtain contiguous, 5-mm thick axial CT images from the diaphragm to the ankles of 27 patients after intravenous injection of contrast material. These patients were clinically suspected of having DVT. The same patients underwent venous sonography before CT examination. The detectability of DVT with MSCT venography was compared with that with venous sonography.

Results: MSCT venography detected DVT in 21 patients, but venous sonography did so in only 17. MSCT venography detected DVT missed by venous sonography in five patients, while venous sonography detected DVT missed by MSCT venography in one patient.

Conclusion: MSCT venography can be expected to make a valuable contribution to the diagnosis of DVT and to the prophylaxis of pulmonary embolism.