Comparison of temperature profiles (DeVeTherm) and conventional venography in suspected lower limb thrombosis

In 124 patients admitted with suspected acute deep venous thrombosis, the screening value of a new thermographic scanner, DeVeTherm, was evaluated using conventional venography as a reference. The sensitivity of the scanner was calculated at 92% and the specificity at 25%. The predictive value of positive temperature profiles was 0.48, and that of negative temperature profiles, 0.82. On the basis of these results neither the accuracy nor the potential savings justify using temperature profiles alone as a screening test for this condition.