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Updated: May 25, 2026
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Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Screening for Proximal Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis
Published on: February 10, 2023
Acute abdominal venous thromboses--the hyperdense CT sign
Mark Goldstein1, Lye Quen, Lindsay Jacks
1Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. goldsteinmark@yahoo.co.uk
Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
|January 21, 2012
Summary
Unenhanced computed tomography (CT) can detect acute abdominal venous thrombosis (VT) in over two-thirds of cases. Identifying hyperdense venous segments on CT aids in diagnosing abdominal VT.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Abdominal Imaging
- Vascular Imaging
Background:
- Acute abdominal venous thrombosis (VT) is a critical condition requiring accurate diagnosis.
- Unenhanced computed tomography (CT) is a widely available imaging modality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of unenhanced CT for acute abdominal VT.
- To determine the effectiveness of different CT window settings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 29 patients with abdominal VT and 29 controls.
- Independent review of unenhanced CT scans by two radiologists.
- Assessment of VT detection using standard and narrowed window settings.
Main Results:
- Unenhanced CT demonstrated 77.9% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity for VT detection.
- Narrowed window settings improved sensitivity and radiologist confidence.
- Mean VT density (Hounsfield Unit) was significantly higher than background blood and correlated with hemoglobin/hematocrit.
Conclusions:
- Unenhanced CT is a viable tool for diagnosing acute abdominal VT.
- Hyperdense venous segments on unenhanced CT are key indicators of VT.
- Further research may optimize CT protocols for VT detection.
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