ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses indications for testing, examination techniques, the accuracy of the venous duplex examination in various anatomic beds, and controversies in the imaging of acute venous disease. Standards and guidelines for the duplex assessment of acute venous disease may be found from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) for vascular testing. The IAC Standards and Guidelines include Doppler waveform assessment of the common femoral and popliteal veins at a minimum. The IAC standards include transverse grayscale imaging for compressibility of the internal jugular, subclavian, axillary, brachial, basilic, and cephalic veins, with additional assessment of antecubital and forearm deep veins if symptoms suggest thrombosis. Although venous duplex imaging was initially utilized to detect thrombosis in the upper and lower extremity venous beds, duplex is now being utilized for the detection of thrombosis in the ilio-caval and mesenteric veins as well. Assessment for upper extremity venous thrombosis and patency is similar to that of the lower extremity.
