Does the asymptomatic limb harbor deep venous thrombosis?

Abstract

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a great masquerader that cannot be reliably predicted by a patient's symptoms, history, or risk factors. Bilateral lower extremity duplex ultrasonography scans were made of 2,511 patients and analyzed to identify, if possible, a population in which a unilateral study would be appropriate. A total of 1,086 (43%) patients were found to have deep venous thrombosis--742 (30%) unilateral and 344 (14%) bilateral. Of the patients with DVT for whom side-of-symptom information was recorded, 64% had symptoms referable to the involved extremity and 36% had symptoms referable to the contralateral extremity. Of the 362 patients who had asymptomatic lower extremities, 128 (35%) had DVT. Moreover, clots were found in asymptomatic limbs in an additional 263 patients whose contralateral limb was symptomatic. Logistic regression analysis did not reveal combinations of symptoms and risk factors that could predict DVT. If DVT is suspected, the patient should undergo bilateral lower extremity duplex scanning.