Purpose: To determine if compression of the left common iliac vein (LCIV) by the right common iliac artery is associated with left-sided deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
Materials and methods: This institutional review board-approved case-control study was performed in a cohort of 230 consecutive patients (94 men, 136 women; mean age, 57.5 years; range, 10-94 years) at one institution who had undergone contrast material-enhanced computed tomography of the pelvis prior to a diagnosis of unilateral DVT. Demographic data and information on risk factors were collected. Two board-certified radiologists determined iliac vein compression by using quantitative measures of percentage compression {[1 minus (LCIV diameter at point of maximal compression/distal right common iliac vein diameter)] times 100%}, as well as qualitative measures (none, mild, moderate, severe), with estimates of measurement variability. Logistic regression analysis was performed (independent variable, left vs right DVT; dependent variable, iliac vein compression). Cutpoints of relevant compression were evaluated by using splines. Means (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) and odds ratios (ORs) (and 95% CIs) of left DVT per 1% increase in percentage compression were calculated.
Results: Patients with right DVT were more likely than those with left DVT to have a history of pulmonary embolism. Overall, in all study patients, mean percentage compression was 36.6%, 66 (29.7%) of 222 had greater than 50% compression, and 16 (7.2%) had greater than 70% compression. At most levels of compression, increasing compression was not associated with left DVT (adjusted ORs, 1.00, 0.99, 1.02) but above 70%, LCIV compression may be associated with left DVT (adjusted ORs, 3.03, 0.91, 10.15).
Conclusion: Increasing levels of percentage compression were not associated with left-sided DVT up to 70%; however, greater than 70% compression may be associated with left DVT.
Supplemental material: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.12111580/-/DC1.
©RSNA, 2012.