Tags

Type your tag names separated by a space and hit enter

Interobserver agreement on ultrasound measurements of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler venous flow in patients with previous venous thrombosis.
Thromb Res. 2006; 117(3):241-7.TR

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

In patients with new symptoms in a leg previously affected by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the presence of thrombus on ultrasound cannot be assumed to be due to recurrent thrombosis. Several parameters have been suggested to differentiate between acute and chronic thrombus on ultrasound, including measurement of residual vein diameter during compression, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler assessment of venous flow, but studies on the reproducibility of these measurements are sparse.

OBJECTIVE

To determine interobserver agreement on measurement of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler venous flow in patients with residual thrombus in the veins of the lower limb.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with previous proximal DVT who had a high likelihood of residual thrombosis, but without symptoms of recurrent DVT, had ultrasound examinations independently performed by two examiners on the same day. Interobserver agreement on measurement of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler venous flow was evaluated.

RESULTS

We determined that interobserver agreement on these measurements was moderate. The mean difference between paired measurements of residual vein diameter was 2.2 mm (95th centile, 8.0 mm). When both examiners agreed residual thrombus was present, 54% of the variance of the measurement of residual vein diameter was accounted for by the paired measurements. The weighted kappa coefficient for thrombus echogenicity was 0.01 and for Doppler venous flow was 0.51.

CONCLUSIONS

The error associated with ultrasound measurements of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and flow appears to be considerable.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Linkins LA
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. llinkins@thrombosis.hhscr.org
Stretton R
No affiliation info available
Probyn L
No affiliation info available
Kearon C
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedObserver VariationReproducibility of ResultsThrombophlebitisThrombosisTime FactorsUltrasonographyUltrasonography, DopplerVenous Thrombosis

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

16378830

Clinical Trial Links

Diagnosis Exclusion of Recurrent Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Lower Limbs

Citation

Linkins, Lori-Ann, et al. "Interobserver Agreement On Ultrasound Measurements of Residual Vein Diameter, Thrombus Echogenicity and Doppler Venous Flow in Patients With Previous Venous Thrombosis." Thrombosis Research, vol. 117, no. 3, 2006, pp. 241-7.
Linkins LA, Stretton R, Probyn L, et al. Interobserver agreement on ultrasound measurements of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler venous flow in patients with previous venous thrombosis. Thromb Res. 2006;117(3):241-7.
Linkins, L. A., Stretton, R., Probyn, L., & Kearon, C. (2006). Interobserver agreement on ultrasound measurements of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler venous flow in patients with previous venous thrombosis. Thrombosis Research, 117(3), 241-7.
Linkins LA, et al. Interobserver Agreement On Ultrasound Measurements of Residual Vein Diameter, Thrombus Echogenicity and Doppler Venous Flow in Patients With Previous Venous Thrombosis. Thromb Res. 2006;117(3):241-7. PubMed PMID: 16378830.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Interobserver agreement on ultrasound measurements of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler venous flow in patients with previous venous thrombosis. AU - Linkins,Lori-Ann, AU - Stretton,Richard, AU - Probyn,Linda, AU - Kearon,Clive, Y1 - 2005/03/21/ PY - 2004/12/01/received PY - 2005/02/18/revised PY - 2005/02/21/accepted PY - 2005/12/28/pubmed PY - 2006/6/7/medline PY - 2005/12/28/entrez SP - 241 EP - 7 JF - Thrombosis research JO - Thromb Res VL - 117 IS - 3 N2 - INTRODUCTION: In patients with new symptoms in a leg previously affected by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the presence of thrombus on ultrasound cannot be assumed to be due to recurrent thrombosis. Several parameters have been suggested to differentiate between acute and chronic thrombus on ultrasound, including measurement of residual vein diameter during compression, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler assessment of venous flow, but studies on the reproducibility of these measurements are sparse. OBJECTIVE: To determine interobserver agreement on measurement of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler venous flow in patients with residual thrombus in the veins of the lower limb. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with previous proximal DVT who had a high likelihood of residual thrombosis, but without symptoms of recurrent DVT, had ultrasound examinations independently performed by two examiners on the same day. Interobserver agreement on measurement of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and Doppler venous flow was evaluated. RESULTS: We determined that interobserver agreement on these measurements was moderate. The mean difference between paired measurements of residual vein diameter was 2.2 mm (95th centile, 8.0 mm). When both examiners agreed residual thrombus was present, 54% of the variance of the measurement of residual vein diameter was accounted for by the paired measurements. The weighted kappa coefficient for thrombus echogenicity was 0.01 and for Doppler venous flow was 0.51. CONCLUSIONS: The error associated with ultrasound measurements of residual vein diameter, thrombus echogenicity and flow appears to be considerable. SN - 0049-3848 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/16378830/Interobserver_agreement_on_ultrasound_measurements_of_residual_vein_diameter_thrombus_echogenicity_and_Doppler_venous_flow_in_patients_with_previous_venous_thrombosis_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -