[Role of computerized pulmonary angiography by peripheral venous approach in the study of deep venous thromboses of the legs].

A pulmonary angiography through peripheral venous approach was systematically performed in 40 consecutive patients presenting a recent deep venous thrombosis. None of these patients had been sent for a suspected pulmonary embolus. The analysis of the images that were obtained, enabled to confirm the diagnosis of pulmonary migration in 9 of these patients (22.5%). The retrospective study of the files confirms the fact that these pulmonary emboli present few symptoms or are asymptomatic in 17.5 p. cent of the cases. The quality of the images, the good acceptability and the moderate cost of pulmonary angiography through peripheral venous approach allow the performance of this examination during the initial work-up of a deep venous thrombosis. The demonstration of a latent pulmonary embolus must enable to separate high risk patients and thus guide subsequent therapy.