Kinetics of [99mTc]heparin, venous scintigraphy with [99mTc]fibrinogen and beta-thromboglobulin assay in the diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis

The information provided by three examinations: [99mTc]heparin kinetics (KH), venous scintigraphy with [99mTc]fibrinogen (VSF) and plasmatic assay of beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG), are studied on 23 patients separated into two groups on the basis of phlebographic results. VSF which could provide to a certain extent the same kind of information as phlebography, proves to have insufficient sensitivity. KH has high specificity but low sensitivity, while beta TG performance is the opposite. The authors discuss the mechanisms responsible for these discordant results. They observe that in cases where the KH and beta TG correspond, the diagnostic value is very satisfactory, so that a double positive can replace phlebography in cases where the latter is contra-indicated or difficult to perform.