Improving detection of venous thromboembolism - New technology holds promise for early, precise diagnosis

Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism represent disorders of hemostasis that fall within the larger classification labeled venous thromboembolism. The mortality rate fur these disorders is about 15%, and death is often linked with missed or delayed diagnosis, which points to the importance of clinical suspicion in successful management. During the last decade, new technology has greatly enhanced the accuracy of diagnosis. This article discusses some of the new diagnostic modalities and explains when and why they might be helpful in clinical practice.