2004 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 19-23
Thirty-eight limbs (21 patients) with varicose veins were examined by three-dimensional CT scanning (3DCT) between April 2002 and March 2003. Five vascular surgeons independently reviewed 3D-CT images of the varicose veins, in terms of running course and dilatation of the veins, and sites of incompetent perforators. These results were compared with those obtained by duplex scanning (DS). Although 3D-CT was performed in a supine position, the running course and dilatation of the veins was clear in all patients except for one with lipodermatosclerosis. Incompetent perforators were categorized into six regions, producing low true-positive rates of 3D-CT and DS of 10.0-31.6%. However, the rate of false positives in 3D-CT that were negative in DS was also low, at 3.1-20.8%. These results suggest that 3D-CT is useful for anatomical evaluation of a superficial vein in cases without lipodermatosclerosis, and might be a substitute for a phlebogram. However, 3D-CT was unable to provide information on venous reflux and the deep-vein system, nor exact information about incompetent perforators; therefore, accurate diagnosis requires combination with DS.
