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Clinical Implications of the Site of Vein Noncompressibility

Brian G. Birdwell, MD; Gary E. Raskob, PhD; Thomas L. Whitsett, MD; Sherri S. Durica, MD; Philip C. Comp, MD, PhD; James N. George, MD; Timothy L. Tytle, MD; Willis L. Owen, PhD; Patrick A. McKee, MD

Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:309-313.

Background  Compression ultrasonography has a high negative predictive value for deep vein thrombosis in symptomatic outpatients. Limited data are available on factors influencing positive predictive value. The objective of this study was to evaluate the positive predictive value of compression ultrasonography according to the anatomic site of vein noncompressibility.

Methods  We performed a prospective cohort study of 756 consecutive outpatients with suspected first-episode deep vein thrombosis. Compression ultrasonography was performed at the initial visit: results were abnormal if a noncompressible segment was identified or normal if all segments were fully compressible. Venography was performed in patients with abnormal compression ultrasonography results. Positive predictive value was determined according to the site of noncompressibility: common femoral vein only, popliteal vein only, or both sites. Venography was the reference standard for the presence of deep vein thrombosis.

Results  Positive predictive value was 16.7% (95% confidence interval, 0.4%-64.1%) for noncompressibility isolated to the common femoral vein compared with 91.3% (95% confidence interval, 72.0%-98.9%) for the popliteal vein only and 94.4% (95% confidence interval, 72.7%-99.9%) for both sites (P<.001). Of 15 patients with isolated noncompressibility of the common femoral vein, 8 (53%) had pelvic neoplasm or abscess compared with 2 (5%) of 42 with noncompressibility of the popliteal vein only and 6 (13%) of 47 with noncompressibility of both sites (P<.001).

Conclusions  The positive predictive value of noncompressibility isolated to the common femoral vein is too low to be used alone as the diagnostic end point for giving anticoagulant therapy. Noncompressibility isolated to the common femoral vein is a diagnostic marker for pelvic disease.

From the Departments of Medicine (Drs Birdwell, Raskob, Whitsett, Durica, Comp, George, and McKee), Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Drs Raskob and Owen), and Radiologic Sciences (Dr Tytle), University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, University Hospital, and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City.

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