ECHO CONTRAST-MEDIUM FOR COLOR-CODED DUPLEX SONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS OF THE THIGH

Purpose: Evaluation of an echo contrast medium (Echovist(R)) for color-coded duplex sonography of deep venous thrombosis of the thigh. Material and methods: In 19 patients with deep vein thrombosis of the thigh, diagnosed by contrast phlebography, 22 color-coded duplex sonography studies were performed for flow analysis at the top of the thrombus. During the studies 8.5 ml echo contrast medium were injected in an ipsilateral vein at the back of the foot. The now signals of the non-enhanced color coded duplex sonography were compared with those of the echo enhanced study for differentiation between floating thrombi from those adherent to the vein wall. Results: The echo-enhanced color-coded duplex sonography showed a significant increase in detection of perfusion at the top of the thrombus in comparison with non-enhanced color-coded duplex sonography (p < 0.01). 9 thrombi were regarded as wall adherent after the native study, 7 of these could be identified as floating thrombi by echo-enhanced color-coded duplex sonography. Conclusion: Echo-enhanced color-coded duplex sonography yields a significant increase of diagnostic information in certain findings of the non-enhanced color-coded duplex sonography differentiating between floating thrombi and wall adherent thrombi in the deep venous system of the thigh.