Abstract
This study was performed to validate the combined study of flow radionuclide venography (FRV) with subsequent 99m Tc-red blood cell(RBC) blood pool ra dionuclide venography(BRV) for the detection of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Findings in 32 patients with suspected DVT of lower extremities (n = 52) were compared with those of corresponding contrast venograms (CV) serving as a refer ence method. FRV was performed by using three separate doses of a large 99mTc04-bolus (10-12 cc) injection. The findings were as follows: concerning the detection of DVT in calf veins, agreement between FRV and CV, FRV $BRV and CV, and BRV and CV were 67%, 73% and 60%, respectively. For femoral veins, agreement between FRV and CV was 96%, while it was 87% between BRV and CV. When FRV and BRV of femoral veins were evaluated in combination, 100% agreement between radionuclide and radiologic methods was observed. For ili ac veins there was no disagreement in comparison of the methods either singly or in combination. In 7.6% of the extremities, collaterals not demonstrated by CV and BRV were visualized only by FRV. Although the radioactive agent was injected in a relatively large volume, all of the calf veins could not be filled even when they were completely patent. It was concluded that a combined study of FRV with BRV improved the diagnostic value of radionuclide venography for the detection of DVT in calf and femoral veins.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.