[Duplex sonography in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis in the lower limbs]

Duplex ultrasonography (DUS) has shown high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It is now considered the initial procedure of choice for the evaluation of this entity because of its advantages (low cost, non invasiveness, no need for contrast media, no ionizing radiation) and because of the possibility of making other diagnoses, v.g. Baker's cyst. With the development of color Doppler, this study has become easier and now includes the calf and iliac vessels. Nevertheless, it has not improved the sensitivity and specificity of DUS. Phlebography, until now the "golden standard", has become a "second choice" procedure for proximal DVT but it continues to be of value in the evaluation of calf veins, which are more difficult to evaluate with DUS, and other venous pathology.