MedicineHematologyInternal MedicineDiagnostic ReasoningHemostasisVascular SurgeryDifferential DiagnosisDoppler UltrasoundThromboembolic DiseaseThrombosisThrombotic DisordersVenous DiseaseDifferential Diagnosis CriteriaDoppler ImagingVenous DiagnosticsVenous Doppler Evaluation
<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> I think the title of the article, "Fallibility of the Clinical Diagnosis of Venous Thrombosis" (234: 605, 1975), is misleading. The article is very specific as to comparison of the Doppler technique to the venogram, but does not really talk about how often the clinician would have been inclined to treat the patient on the basis of bedside findings. From the statement that the diagnosis of acute venous thrombosis "was entertained," I infer that it was part of a differential diagnosis. In order to justify the title, an objective study of how often and how strongly the clinician believed he or she was dealing with acute thrombosis could have been designed. I certainly agree that there are many diseases that can mimic acute thrombosis, but this article did not accurately demonstrate how often a definite diagnosis was made and found to be in error.