Thermography in screening postoperative deep vein thrombosis: a comparison with the 125I-fibrinogen test.

The value of thermography as a screening method for postoperative deep vein thrombosis has been evaluated in 308 patients (616 legs). Comparison was made with the 125I-fibrinogen test. The overall diagnostic agreement was 81.0 per cent; the sensitivity was 62.1 per cent and the specificity 90.3 per cent. The agreement increased with proximal extension of the thrombi. Thermography became positive 0.26 days after the 125I-fibrinogen test but in 19.8 per cent thermography was positive before a positive fibrinogen test.