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Evaluates the safety of withholding anticoagulant treatment from patients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis but normal findings on compression ultrasonography. Use of a simplified diagnostic procedure limited to the common femoral vein; Reason for false positive test results. INSET: Key messages..

The article discusses the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), comparing the effectiveness of two diagnostic strategies used with symptomatic outpatients with DVT in their lower extremities. The two strategies both use ultrasonography, but one investigates proximal veins, called serial 2-point ultrasonography plus D-dimer testing, while the other investigates the entire deep-vein system, called whole-leg color-coded Doppler ultrasonography. Whole-leg ultrasonography is considered the better approach, the article indicates, yet requires more skilled operators and tends to only be available during working hours. Also discussed is the need to repeat the 2-point technique within one week of the original test.

Determines the potential for an improved and simplified diagnostic approach in patients with suspected deep-vein thrombosis. Prevalence prediction by the clinical model; Statistical difference in the performance of the model in the three tertiary care centers; Demonstration of excellent interobserver reliability.