Lower-extremity venous ultrasound — past, present and future

Deep vein thrombosis is a frequent clinical concern and imaging request in the pediatric population. There has been increased awareness of deep venous thrombosis in the pediatric population and sonography is now utilized more liberally and frequently to evaluate for thrombosis in the extremities. In this review the author discusses various aspects of deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremity including the pathophysiology, background, and morbidity in children. The current ultrasound guidelines and techniques, and the controversy over treatment are discussed as well.