Subcutaneous whole-body radionuclide venography using Tc-99m in vivo tagged red blood cells.

Purpose: The accurate diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is essential to prevent its complications and to initiate appropriate treatment. Doppler ultrasound (DUS), contrast venography, and intravenous radionuclide venography have been used for many years to detect DVT. However, obtaining venous access in the foot for injection of contrast agent can be difficult.

Methods: The authors introduce the technique of subcutaneous radionuclide venography using Tc-99m in vivo tagged red blood cells and compare it with DUS, a widely used method. Sixty patients (120 lower extremities) underwent subcutaneous radionuclide venography and DUS.

Results: The concordance rate was 94% in the femoral veins and 95% in the popliteal veins. Subcutaneous radionuclide venography revealed 10 iliac vein thromboses and 2 inferior vena cava thromboses that were not detected by DUS.

Conclusions: Subcutaneous radionuclide venography is a useful alternative method for detecting DVT. It is particularly valuable for evaluating DVT in the iliac veins and in the inferior vena cava.