Table 3.

Results that “rule-in” or “rule-out” leg DVT

Results
Rules-in a first leg DVT
Venous ultrasound
Noncompressibility of proximal veins (calf vein trifurcation included)
Noncompressibility of distal veins, when findings are extensive
Intraluminal defect (unequivocal) with associated absence of flow in the iliac veins or inferior vena cava, when compressibility cannot be assessed
Venography
Intraluminal filling defect in proximal or distal deep veins
Rules-out a first leg DVT
D-dimer
Negative very sensitive test (eg, D-dimer <500 μg/L) AND low or moderate CPTP
Negative moderately sensitive test (including D-dimer <1000 μg/L) AND low CPTP
Venous ultrasound
Fully compressible proximal veins AND low CPTP
Fully compressible proximal veins AND moderately or very sensitive D-dimer test
Fully compressible proximal and distal veins (whole-leg US)
Fully compressible proximal veins AND normal repeat proximal US after 7 d
Venography
All deep veins seen and no intraluminal filling defects
Rules-in a recurrent leg DVT
Venous ultrasound
A new, noncompressible proximal vein segment
A 4-mm increase in diameter of the common femoral or popliteal vein compared with a previous test
A unequivocal extension of thrombosis (eg, additional 10 cm) within the femoral vein
Venography
Intraluminal filling defect in proximal or distal deep veins (new, or >3 mo after last event)
Rules-out a recurrent leg DVT
All criteria that rule-out a first DVT
Venous ultrasound
≤1 mm increase in diameter of the common femoral, and femoral and popliteal veins compared with a previous test AND remains unchanged on repeat testing after 2 d and 7 d