Scintiscanning in venous thrombosis of the lower extremities

Venous scintiscanning was performed once or serially in 252 patients in whom deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities was suspected, representing a total of 494 limbs examined and 1,266 venous scintiscans performed. When controlled with roentgenologic contrast phlebography, the diagnostic accuracy rate of the isotopic method was 94.4 per cent, which increased up to 98.5 per cent when the thrombotic process was located in a major vein of the upper thigh or pelvis. There were 5.6 per cent false-positive and no false-negative diagnoses. The parameters that we have considered to be the most significant for the accurate interpretation of venous scintiscanning of the lower extremities are mentioned. Venous scintiscanning is a safe, simple and highly reliable method for the study of deep venous thrombotic disease of the lower extremitites.