ABSTRACT
Venous thromboembolism encompasses a spectrum of disease, beginning with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and commonly resulting in pulmonary embolism or post-thrombotic syndrome. The classic “textbook” patient is rarely encountered in medicine, and this is especially true with regard to the presentation of patients with possible DVT. In the primary care setting, patient history and physical examination are insufficient to rule in or out the presence of DVT. The presence of DVT in the major vessels of the lower extremity, including the popliteal vein and proximally, should reduce the rate of venous outflow and subsequently affect the tracing. Using magnetic resonance venography (MRV) to diagnose DVT might limit the availability of MRI for other uses due to scheduling difficulties. MRV should also be able to detect thrombi proximal to the inguinal ligament, an area which has been problematic for compression US in the past.
