Radionuclide venography as an outpatient screening test for deep venous thrombosis

This study evaluated the use of radionuclide venography (RNV) as a screening test for patients with signs and symptoms of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Seventy patients underwent RNV; 27 of the 70 patients also had contrast venography. The incidence of DVT was 19% (13 of 70). RNV had an observed sensitivity of 93% and an observed specificity of 100%. Follow-up at one month revealed no evidence of thromboembolic disease in patients with a negative scan. RNV is an accurate, practical screening test for DVT.