[Color-coded Doppler sonography of deep venous thrombosis--possibilities and limitations in the area of the veins of the pelvis and the lower leg including postthrombotic changes].

A comparative angiodynographic and phlebographic examination of 150 extremities in a total of 119 patients was performed in respect of the visualisation of the veins of the pelvis and lower leg. Controls regarding the course of disease with conservative treatment of a thrombotic occlusion were carried out between the 2nd and 6th weeks after the acute incident. Despite restricted examination conditions in the pelvic region, the examination yields satisfactory proof of the presence or non-existence of an iliac vein thrombosis. Improved flow detection enables the visualisation of the veins of the lower leg and the diagnosis even of incomplete thromboses of the veins of the lower leg. Colour-coded Doppler sonography is highly sensitive in detecting postthrombotic vascular changes, and hence angiodynography is a non-invasive method that is useful in checking on the success of conservative therapy subsequent to the treatment. This method is an essential improvement compared with conventional sonography in respect of the difficult differentiation between fresh venous thromboses and late postthrombotic changes.