Usefulness of the computed tomography venography for evaluation of leg edema including deep vein thrombosis in rehabilitation patients.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the usefulness of computed tomography venography (CTV) for evaluation of leg swelling, especially deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in rehabilitation patients.

METHODS

A hundred twenty-three patients, who had performed CTV performed because of suspected DVT in our clinic, were enrolled. We performed chart reviews retrospectively and categorized CTV findings as follows: DVT distal to inguinal ligament and no compression lesion; DVT proximal to inguinal ligament and no compression lesion; DVT distal to inguinal ligament and anatomical variant (for example, May-Thurner syndrome); DVT due to compression of mass (cancer or cyst); DVT and other incidental abnormal finding; and no DVT and other possible causes of leg swelling.

RESULTS

DVTs were found in 65 (53%) patients. DVTs were found at distal level (thigh or lower leg) to inguinal ligament in 47 patients. DVTs were found at proximal to inguinal ligament, usually undetectable with duplex ultrasonography, in 6 patients. DVTs caused by external compression, such as femoral vein and cancer mass, were found in 12 patients (10%), which are also not easily detected with duplex ultrasonography. Other various causes of leg edema without DVT were found in 22 (18%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

CTV can evaluate more extensively venous problems in the pelvis and abdomen and detect other possible causes of leg swelling. Therefore, CTV can be a useful tool not only for easy detection of DVT but also for evaluating differential diagnosis of leg edema in rehabilitation patients.