DIAGNOSING DVT
To determine if you have deep vein thrombosis (DVT), your doctor will take your medical history and check for signs of the condition, such as swelling, redness, and skin that’s warm to the touch. However, since 50% of people with DVT don’t have any symptoms1, your doctor will likely order one or more of the following tests.
DVT TESTS AND DIAGNOSTIC
The most common test for diagnosing DVT, an ultrasound uses sound waves to detect a clot and determine whether blood is flowing properly in the affected area. Your doctor may recommend a series of ultrasounds over several days to find out if your clot is growing and to make sure a new clot hasn’t developed.
If the ultrasound doesn’t provide a clear diagnosis, your doctor may perform a venography test. He or she will inject a dye into the affected leg and take an x-ray to look for blood clots.
Your doctor may use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) scans to take pictures of your organs and veins and determine if you have a clot.
A D-dimer test measures a substance in your blood that is released when a blood clot breaks up or dissolves. Your doctor may recommend additional blood tests to find out if you have an inherited blood clotting disorder that can cause DVT.
GET CLARITY ABOUT DVT TREATMENTS
If you’ve been diagnosed with DVT, it’s important to understand your treatment options. Learn more about the options available that treat DVT and may help reduce your risk of long-term complications.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS FOR DVT?
Learn about the common symptoms of DVT, including leg pain and swelling, a cramp in the calf or thigh, and more.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
FROM UNDERSTANDING YOUR RISK OF COMPLICATIONS TO FINDING OUT ABOUT YOUR TREATMENT OPTIONS, OUR DOCTOR DISCUSSION GUIDE HAS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO HELP CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION ABOUT DVT.
KEEP THE CLARITY COMING WITH EMAIL UPDATES
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html. Accessed October 13, 2015.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html. Accessed October 13, 2015.