To demonstrate the difficulties of the clinical diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and demonstrate the utility of ultrasound imaging as a diagnostic technique in suspected deep vein thrombosis.
Design:
Series of three case reports.
Setting:
Grondin Clinic, Calgery, Alberta, Canada.
Patients:
Three patients with symptoms suggestive of deep vein thrombosis of the calf.
Interventions:
Duplex ultrasound imaging in all patients combined with phlebography of the lower limb in one patient.
Main outcome measure:
Presence of deep vein thrombosis or soft tissue abnormalities of the lower limb on ultrasound imaging or venography.
Results:
A Baker cyst was found in one patient, an intramuscular haematoma in a further patient, both detected by ultrasound imaging, but not by venography. In the third patient a venogram failed to demonstrate deep vein thrombosis in the calf, but this was detected on ultrasound imaging.
Conclusions:
Ultrasound imaging is a valuable tool in reaching a diagnosis in patients presenting with symptoms suggesting deep vein thrombosis in the calf.
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