Can ultrasound differentiate between acute and chronic deep vein thrombosis?
US with color spectral Doppler imaging cannot reliably differentiate between acute and chronic DVT, because in both cases the vein is not fully compressible. However, in general, as acute thrombus ages, it reorganizes and retracts. Sonographically, this can appear as irregular wall thickening, calcified retracted thrombus, decreased vein diameter, and presence of collateral veins.
