Park EA, Lee W, Lee MW, Choi SI, Jae HJ, Chung JW, Park JH. Chronic-Stage Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Lower Extremities.
J Comput Assist Tomogr 2007;
31:649-56. [PMID:
17882048 DOI:
10.1097/rct.0b013e31803151d9]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To describe the computed tomographic (CT) findings of chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its evolution from acute DVT.
METHODS
Fifty-one consecutive patients with 52 legs confirmed as acute DVT by CT venography underwent follow-up computed tomography more than 2 months later. Follow-up CT findings were assessed retrospectively by consensus between 2 radiologists. The frequencies of CT findings were analyzed for affected venous segments: common iliac, external iliac, femoral, popliteal, and calf veins.
RESULTS
Twelve legs (23%) were completely normalized on follow-up computed tomography, but 40 legs (77%) showed abnormal findings as follows: luminal obliteration (n = 16), decreased caliber (n = 30), residual thrombi (n = 3), fibrotic bands (n = 28), ipsilateral muscle enlargement (n = 28), ipsilateral subcutaneous edema (n = 11), and superficial collateral vein development (n = 23). The external iliac vein (26/40, 65%) was the most commonly affected site followed in decreasing order by femoral (29/50, 58%), common iliac (9/18, 50%), popliteal (22/47, 47%), and calf veins (9/43, 21%). Trends were observed whereby luminal obliteration affected iliac veins and fibrotic bands affected femoropopliteal veins.
CONCLUSIONS
Luminal obliteration, decreased caliber, fibrotic bands, ipsilateral muscle enlargement, and superficial collateral vein development are common CT findings in chronic DVT of the lower extremity.
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