Deep vein thrombosis: can a second sonographic examination be avoided?

Objective: Our objective was to determine the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis in symptomatic patients and its distribution based on the assessment of prior clinical probability. We evaluated whether repeated sonography is necessary in patients with either intermediate or high clinical probability for deep vein thrombosis after an initial examination with negative findings.

Subjects And Methods: We prospectively evaluated 438 consecutive patients with clinical suggestion of deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, classified according to the prior clinical probability (high, intermediate, low).