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[Calf muscle venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism]
1Unité d'Echo-Doppler Vasculaire Périphérique, CHU La Cavale Blanche, Brest.
Introduction:
The clinical significance of calf muscle venous thrombosis (CMVT) still remains a matter of debate. Detected by ultrasonography, they are overlooked by venography. This prompted us to evaluate the frequency of such localizations and their association to pulmonary embolism (PE).
Methods:
Retrospective review of our database over a three-year period. All patients with an isolated CMVT were included.
Results:
Isolated CMVT were detected in 106 patients (mean age 68.6 years; 65% women), that is 12.5% of all venous thromboses diagnosed in the vascular sonography unit over the study period Sixteen associated PE were detected (15%).
Conclusions:
Association of CMVT and PE is not infrequent. Whether or not such thromboses have the potential to extend into deep veins and/or to migrate into pulmonary circulation requires further studies.