![]() |
JOURNAL TOOLS |
Publishing options |
eTOC |
To subscribe |
Submit an article |
Recommend to your librarian |
ARTICLE TOOLS |
Publication history |
Reprints |
Permissions |
Cite this article as |
Share |


YOUR ACCOUNT
YOUR ORDERS
SHOPPING BASKET
Items: 0
Total amount: € 0,00
HOW TO ORDER
YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS
YOUR ARTICLES
YOUR EBOOKS
COUPON
ACCESSIBILITY
SPECIAL ARTICLE
Acta Phlebologica 2018 August;19(2):59-62
DOI: 10.23736/S1593-232X.18.00420-4
Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
language: English
Sonography of leg venous edema
Alberto CAGGIATI 1, 2 ✉, Lorenza CAGGIATI 1, 2
1 Department of Anatomy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; 2 Villa Margherita Hospital, Rome, Italy
Ultrasonography is currently used only to designate the pattern and location of venous lesions. Recent experiences showed that the structure of the cutaneous and subcutaneous layers is clearly demonstrated by ultrasonography. In legs with edema due to venous insufficiency, two patterns of subcutaneous thickening can be observed: 1) diffuse soaking with light increase of tissue echogenicity; 2) anechogenic lacunae of variable size and extension. Edema of the dermis may coexist. In order to possibly evaluate the effects of mechanical treatments, Duplex findings from the cutaneous and subcutaneous layers are evaluated also after a squeezing maneuver. Skin ultrasonography should improve our knowledge about pathophysiology of edema and contribute to a better grading of venous disease severity. Further investigations are needed to possibly explain the pathophysiology of the different patterns of subcutaneous layers thickening, as well as the occurrence of dermal edema.
KEY WORDS: Venous insufficiency - Edema - Ultrasonography