Silent pulmonary embolism in patients with distal deep venous thrombosis: systematic review.

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence of silent pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) limited to the calf veins.
Methods: This is a systematic review. We attempted to identify all published investigations that reported the prevalence of silent PE in patients with infrapopliteal DVT. Studies were identified by searching PubMed through January 2014. The search was augmented by manually reviewing the references in all original articles and in reviews.
Results: The prevalence of silent PE in patients with DVT limited to the calf veins was described in 6 investigations. Pooled data showed a prevalence of 24 of 183 (13.1%) (95% CI 8.9-18.8%).
Conclusion: Silent PE in patients with DVT limited to the calf veins is not rare. Imaging at the time of diagnosis of calf vein DVT, typically with a perfusion scan alone, may be useful, but there is an economic cost and exposure to radiation.
(Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)