[Reassessment of radionuclide-venography for deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities and pelvic cavity using 99mTc-MAA].

We performed radioisotope (RI)-venography in 31 patients suspected of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and 18 patients of them (58.1%) had abnormal findings. Out of the 18 patients, 14 satisfied the diagnostic criteria for DVT, that were interruption in the venous flow with the presence of collateral circulation. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of RI-venography for DVT were 100%, 76%, 87%, respectively. In all of the patients with chief complaints of edema and pain in the unilateral extremity DVT was found by RI-venography. Lung scan revealed multiple pulmonary perfusion defects in 4 (33.3%) of 12 patients with DVT. Out of the 4 patients, 3 (75%) had silent pulmonary thromboembolism. 99mTc-MAA accumulation was seen in the left lobe of the liver in a patient with occlusion of the IVC and common iliac veins. We are convinced that patients with PTE and/or edema and pain in the unilateral lower extremity should undergo routine RI-venography. In conclusion, RI-venography using 99mTc-MAA was reassessed and we obtained the result that it is useful for screening and monitoring DVT and pulmonary thromboembolism.