Work in progress: detection of deep venous thrombosis with 99mTc-sulfur colloid

Scintigrams of the leg were obtained following antecubital venous injection of 99mTc-sulfur colloid (SC) in 25 patients with suspected deep venous thrombosis. Contrast venograms were taken following the scan in all cases. Of 14 patients with confirmed deep venous thrombosis, 11 had positive scans. Of 11 patients with normal venograms, 10 had negative scintigrams. The simplicity of 99mTc-SC venography and its high rate of accuracy (84% in this series) suggest that it may be useful as a relatively noninvasive means of identifying deep venous thrombosis of the leg.