[Differential diagnosis of skin changes on the lower extremities in chronic venous insufficiency]

[Diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency]

For the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), various therapeutic options are available. In addition to conservative compression therapy, classical vein surgery, sclerotherapy and endoluminal therapies are increasingly being used to treat varicose veins. For a differentiated indication and correct treatment planning, a stepwise diagnosis with clinical examination and documentation of typical symptoms, dynamic vein function measurement to assess the global venous status as well as a qualitative assessment of the exact insufficient vein segments by means of color-coded duplex sonography is required. Due to the non-invasiveness of the examination and the good assessability of therapeutically relevant parameters such as anatomic conditions, diameter, and reflux of insufficient veins, color-coded duplex sonography is considered the gold standard for imaging diagnostics.