CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Deep vein thrombosis - Management
What else might it be?
- Only about a third of people with clinical suspicion of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) have the condition. Other conditions which may present with similar signs and symptoms include:
- Physical trauma, for example:
- Calf muscle tear or strain.
- Haematoma (collection of blood) in the muscle.
- Sprain or rupture of a leg tendon.
- Fracture.
- Cardiovascular disorders, for example:
- Superficial thrombophlebitis — see the CKS topic on Thrombophlebitis - superficial.
- Post-thrombotic syndrome — see the CKS topic on Leg ulcer - venous.
- Venous obstruction or insufficiency, or external compression of major veins (for example, by fetus, cancer).
- Arteriovenous fistula and congenital vascular abnormalities.
- Vasculitis.
- Heart failure.
- Other conditions include:
- Ruptured Baker's cyst (a Baker's cyst forms behind the knee from an out-pouching of the synovial membrane of the knee joint, and is a common complication of arthritis).
- Cellulitis (commonly mistaken as DVT).
- Dependent (stasis) oedema.
- Lymphatic obstruction.
- Septic arthritis.
- Cirrhosis.
- Nephrotic syndrome.
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement