Scientific article
Review
English

Diagnosis of venous thromboembolism: an update

Published inVascular medicine, vol. 15, no. 5, p. 399-406
Publication date2010
Abstract

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) cannot be diagnosed solely on a clinical basis owing to the lack of sensitivity and specificity of clinical signs and symptoms. Phlebography and pulmonary angiography are invasive and resource-demanding imaging modalities. Because the prevalence of DVT and PE is relatively low (typically 20% or less) among clinically suspected individuals, submitting all of them to imaging would not be cost-effective. Therefore, non-invasive diagnostic algorithms have been developed that include clinical probability assessment and D-dimer measurement. These initial steps allow the selection of patients who require non-invasive imaging: compression ultrasonography in cases of suspected DVT and multidetector computed tomography (CT) angiography in cases of suspected PE. This review gives a critical appraisal of the sequential steps of the diagnostic work-up in suspected DVT or PE.

Keywords
  • Age Factors
  • Algorithms
  • Biological Markers/blood
  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products/analysis
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Pulmonary Embolism/*diagnosis/therapy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography
  • Venous Thromboembolism/*diagnosis/therapy
  • Venous Thrombosis/*diagnosis/therapy
Citation (ISO format)
BOUNAMEAUX, Henri, PERRIER, Arnaud, RIGHINI, Marc Philip. Diagnosis of venous thromboembolism: an update. In: Vascular medicine, 2010, vol. 15, n° 5, p. 399–406. doi: 10.1177/1358863X10378788
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Additional URL for this publicationhttp://vmj.sagepub.com/content/15/5/399.full.pdf
Journal ISSN1358-863X
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