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. 2017 Dec 8;2017(1):168–171. doi: 10.1182/asheducation-2017.1.168

Table 1.

Findings of 5 studies of various imaging techniques for symptomatic postpartum OVT

Reference Study design N Clinical presentation (n) Imaging modality (n) Test characteristics
10 Retrospective case series 7 Postpartum flank pain (4), fever (3), dyspnea (1), leukocytosis (1) Ultrasonography with Doppler (7) Sensitivity: 100% (7/7)
CT with contrast (3) Sensitivity: 100% (3/3)
14 Prospective cohort study 26 (9 confirmed cases) Postpartum fever unresponsive to ≥48 h of antibiotics Doppler ultrasonography (26) Sensitivity: 55.6%
Specificity: 41.2%
CT with contrast (25) Sensitivity: 77.8%
Specificity: 62.5%
MRI/MRA method (24) Sensitivity: 100%
Specificity: 100%
12 Prospective cohort study 76 (12 confirmed cases) Postpartum fever for ≥5 d unresponsive to antibiotics Ultrasonography Sensitivity: 50% (95% CI, 22-78%)
Specificity: 99% (95% CI, 95-100%)
NPV: 95% (95% CI, 89-98%)
PPV: 85% (95% CI, 42-49)
CT with contrast Sensitivity: 100% (95% CI, 70-100%)
Specificity: 99% (95% CI, 95-100%)
NPV: 100% (95% CI, 96-100%)
PPV: 92% (95% CI, 62-100%)
MRI Sensitivity: 92% (95% CI, 60-100%)
Specificity: 100% (95% CI, 96-100%)
NPV: 99% (95% CI, 95-100%)
PPV: 100% (95% CI, 68-100%)
9 Retrospective case series 10 Postpartum fever/septic shock (9) and abdominal pain (9) Doppler ultrasonography (10) Sensitivity: 80% (8/10: 1 false negative confirmed on laparotomy; 1 inconclusive confirmed on CT scan)

MRA: magnetic resonance angiography; NPV, negative predictive value; PPV, positive predictive value.