Diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis of the leg using immunoscintigraphy with 111In-labelled monoclonal antifibrin antibody fragments.

Fourteen unselected consecutive patients with clinically suggested deep venous thrombosis were studied using 111In-labelled monoclonal antibody Fab-fragments (59D8) in order to evaluate the accuracy of antifibrin imaging. Scintigrams of the legs were obtained at 1 to 4 h and 20 to 28 h in all patients and in seven dynamic studies were also performed. Contrast medium phlebography used as diagnostic standard revealed thrombosis in six patients who also had increased uptake of the tracer at immunoscintigraphy. Three patients had a positive finding at immunoscintigraphy without thrombosis. Because of the high sensitivity of this method, normal antifibrin images may be used to exclude thrombosis. Phlebography may then be restricted to positive cases to confirm the presence of thrombosis.