Objective:

To explore the value of color Doppler ultrasound in diagnosis of changes of soft tissues around deep venous thrombosis in unilateral lower extremity.

Methods:

A total of 80 cases with unilateral lower extremity edema were chosen. They all had deep venous thrombosis. According to thrombosis staging

the cases were divided into stage Ⅰgroup (one vein involved

n=46)

stage Ⅱ group (two veins involved

n=26) and stage Ⅲ group (more than two veins involved

n=8). The color Doppler

flow imaging (CDFI) features of thrombosis and the adjacent muscles and subcutaneous tissues were observed. Compared with the healthy lower extremity

the muscle thickness

the subcutaneous tissue thickness and the changes of structure and echo of the ill lower extremity were measured.

Results:

Deep venous thrombosis displayed low or medium echo. CDFI can not detect the blood flow signal or only little flow could be seen in the veins. The muscles were thickened and there was difference between stage Ⅲ and stage Ⅰgroups (

t

=2.161

P

0.05). Compared with the healthy lower extremity

the muscle echo of illed lower extremity was higher or lower than that of healthy lower extremity. Fissure or patchy anecho between muscles could be seen in some patients

and the features were more obvious with increased thrombosis (

2

=20.033

P

0.05).

Conclusion:

The ultrasonogram of soft tissues around deep venous thrombosis is closely correlated to thrombosis stage. Not only the deep venous thrombosis can be shown directly by color Doppler

but also the changes of adjacent muscles and subcutaneous tissues can be displayed. Color Doppler is the preferred auxiliary examination method for low extremity edema patients.