The diagnostic value of indirect lower limb CT venography in the lower extremity deep venous thrombosis

Objective: To evaluate indirect CT venography (CTV) in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Methods: A total of 516 acute pulmonary embolism patients proved by objective test were analyzed retrospectively. Using the results of lower limb compression sonography as reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of indirect CTV were calculated. The agreement between lower extremity venous sonography and indirect CTV were assessed by Kappa analysis. Results: Among 516 patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), 110 patients underwent both CTV and CTPA and lower extremity sonography. DVT were detected by CTV and sonography simultaneously in 48 patients, while no DVT was detected in 39 patients by both examinations. Thirteen patients were diagnosed to have DVT by CTV without sonography detection, and DVT was detected in other 10 patients only by sonography. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of indirect CTV was 82.8% (48/58), 75.0% (39/52), 78.7% (48/61) and 79.6% (39/49). The agreement between lower extremity venous sonography and indirect CTV was good for femoropopliteal vein (Kappa value range from 0.874 to 0.914, P=0.000). Thrombi detected by CTV were 62 and 52 respectively, and for sonography were 67 and 51 respectively. For calf veins, the agreement decreased (Kappa value range from 0.464 to 0.584, P=0.000). Thrombi detected by CTV were 6, 25 and 13 respectively, and for sonography were 13, 38 and 19 respectively. The agreement for external iliac vein was poor (Kappa value range from 0.230 to 0.262, P=0.067 and 0.004, respectively). Thrombi detected by CTV were 33, and for sonography were 17. Conclusions: The indirect CTV has high accuracy in the diagnosis of DVT. Combined CTPA and CTV can image pulmonary arteries and lower extremity veins in one examination. Indirect CTV can reveal thrombus in large pelvic veins, which has an advantage over sonographic screening for DVT. (authors)