Deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs in Duhok : a descriptive study using Doppler ultrasound

Abstract EN

Background Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a major medical problem, used to be assessed clinically and diagnosed by venography with all its hazards.

Doppler Ultrasound (US) has replaced venography as the method of choice in diagnosis DVT of the lower limbs.

Aim This study was carried out to describe DVT cases detected by Doppler US among patients clinically suspected of having DVT.

Patients and methods One hundred and sixty-two patients (86 males and 76 females) with clinically suspected DVT, referred to the Department of Radiology in Azadi Hospital in Duhok, were involved in this study.

Color Doppler US was done for all patients in a systematic way, mapping all lower limb veins.

Results DVT was found in 64 (38.1%) patients out of the 162 patients examined.

Their ages ranged from 19 - 90 years, with the commonest age group affected being the 30-49(43.7%) year age group.

Popliteal vein was the commonest site affected (32.81%), followed by the posterior tibial vein (26.56%), perforators of varicose vein (25%), femoral vein (15.62%) Conclusion Color Doppler is a reliable method of diagnosis of DVT in symptomatic patients.

The color Doppler has become the first line in investigation of DVT in many centers as it provides a non-invasive method of investigation.

The technique has some limitations in patients with obesity, pregnancy or swollen edematous legs.