Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis with a new radionuclide method--99Tcm-albumin test.

The diagnostic efficiency of 99Tcm-albumin test (AT), a new radionuclide method, was evaluated in 90 consecutive patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) admitted to the medical emergency ward. Phlebography was used as reference method. The sensitivity of the AT test was 92% and the specificity was 61%. As the method is objective, rapid and convenient for the patients, it can be recommended as an initial examination method to be followed by phlebography, in cases with a positive test result. Criteria with high specificity, 98%, have also been defined but these criteria should be further investigated.