investigations

Last reviewed 01/2018

Ideally all patients with varicose veins would have colour duplex ultrasound scanning to determine the characteristics of blood flow in the leg. Unfortunately this is not possible and so duplex scanning is reserved for the following groups of patients with (1):

• recurrent varicose veins
• a history of superficial thrombophlebitis
• a history of DVT
• varicose eczema
• haemosiderin discolouration
• lipodematosclerosis
• venous ulceration

Reference:

• 1) London, NJM, Nash, R. (2000). Varicose veins. BMJ, 320, 1391-4.