[Diagnostic imaging of venous disease: Part I: methods in the diagnosis of veins and thrombosis].

Diseases of the venous system are common. A variety of diagnostic imaging methods are available. Of these, ultrasound with color-coded duplex sonography is the preferred method in the diagnosis of vein diseases, especially in patients with suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and varicosis. Compression sonography is a very accurate test in the diagnosis of DVT of the lower and upper extremities in symptomatic patients. Still today, phlebography is an important tool in the diagnosis of venous diseases. Computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in disorders of the superior and inferior vena cava and of the iliac vein. Today, the role of MR venography in vein diseases is limited.