DVT Imaging

At Vanishing Veins in Broomfield Ct, we offer ultrasound imaging for Deep Vein Thrombosis.

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in one of the deep veins in your body, usually in one of your legs. A blood clot that forms in an artery or vein, and restricts blood flow is called a thrombus. The blood clot is made up of proteins and platelets. Platelets are one of the three major types of blood cells. They help your blood clot and control bleeding.

Several different things can cause a DVT including surgery, injury to the vein, and inflammation of the walls of the vein.

While there are several symptoms of a DVT, imaging is usually necessary to diagnose the condition and locate the clot. An ultrasound is one commonly used test to confirm whether a blood clot — or some other health problem — is causing your symptoms.

Deep Vein Thrombosis symptoms include pain and swelling in the lower leg, redness or discoloration of the skin near the clot, warmth around the affected area.

The DVT Imaging Procedure

Based on your symptoms and your medical history, your healthcare provider may recommend an ultrasound or another test to help diagnose a suspected DVT. This decision is often made when a person arrives/calls with Deep Vein Thrombosis symptoms. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create moving images of blood flowing through your veins and arteries. Unlike an X-ray, for example, an ultrasound does not use any radiation.

During an ultrasound procedure, you’ll wear loose fitting shorts. Only the leg being evaluated will be exposed. Ultrasound gel will be rubbed across a wide area of your leg. The gel is safe and painless.
It forms a bond between the skin and the probe, making it easier for the sound waves to reach the blood vessels under the skin. Any space between the probe and the skin would cause the images to be lost.
The probe is moved slowly and gently across your leg, allowing sound waves to penetrate the skin to the blood vessels and tissue underneath. The waves form images that appear on a computer screen nearby. When a Deep Vein Thrombosis is identified, a still picture of it can be made.

The person doing the ultrasound may want to get a few angles of the DVT to better understand its size and location. The procedure should take less than 30 minutes. After the test, the ultrasound gel will be cleaned off of your leg. Dr. Greenwald will then decide whether any treatment is necessary that day. If the Deep Vein thrombosis doesn’t appear to be a threat, you may have a few more ultrasounds to see if the thrombus is growing or moving.