Importance of Phasicity in Detection of Proximal Iliac Vein Thrombosis with Venous Duplex Examination

Abstract

Superficial venous reflux is commonly the cause of symptomatic venous disease, but proximal venous obstruction may also play a role. A duplex ultrasound evaluating bilateral common femoral veins can detect differences in phasicity, which may be due to pelvic venous obstruction. We report a case of a patient with recurrent symptomatic varicose veins after treatment of superficial venous reflux. Based the duplex ultrasound results of damped respiratory phasicity, the patient was diagnosed with deep venous obstruction which was confirmed on MRV.