How is DVT diagnosed?
How is DVT diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will do a physical exam and review your medical history. You’ll also need to have imaging tests.
Tests to diagnose a DVT
Duplex venous ultrasound. This is the most common test for diagnosing a DVT because it is non-invasive and widely available. This test uses ultrasound waves to show blood flow and blood clots in your veins. A vascular ultrasound technologist applies pressure while scanning your arm or leg. If the pressure doesn’t make your vein compress, it could mean there’s a blood clot. If the results of the duplex ultrasound aren’t clear, your provider can use another imaging test
Venography. In this invasive test, your provider numbs the skin of your neck or groin and uses a catheter to inject a special dye (contrast material) into your veins to see if any blood clots are partially or completely blocking blood flow inside your veins. Venography is rarely used nowadays, but sometimes it is necessary
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Magnetic Resonance Venography (MRV). MRI shows pictures of organs and structures inside your body. MRV shows pictures of the veins in specific locations in your body. In many cases, MRI and MRV can offer more information than a duplex ultrasound or CT scan.
Computed tomography (CT) scan is a type of X-ray that shows structures inside your body. Your provider may use a CT scan to find a DVT in your abdomen, pelvis or brain, as well as blood clots in your lung (pulmonary embolism).
If your doctor thinks you may have a genetic or acquired clotting disorder, you may need to have special blood tests. This may be important if:
- You have a history of blood clots that your provider can’t link to any other cause.
- You have a blood clot in an unusual location, such as in a vein from your intestines, liver, kidney or brain.
- You have a strong family history of blood clots.
- You have a family history of a specific genetic clotting disorder.