Thermography in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis. A comparison with 99Tcm-plasmin test, clinical diagnosis and phlebography.

Thermography, clinical examination and 99Tcm-plasmin test were performed in 112 patients and compared with phlebography. The study population consists of consecutive outpatients with symptoms compatible with deep venous thrombosis, who presented during regular clinic hours. Scoring systems were constructed for the clinical and thermographic evaluation. Both thermography and clinical diagnosis were insufficiently sensitive and specific for screening purposes. Plasmin test had a high sensitivity, 95%, but a low specificity. It is possible that a combination of thermography and clinical diagnostic criteria can provide an acceptable screening procedure. Combining thermography with a routine examination by the physician on duty yielded less favourable results.