Table 1.

Findings of 5 studies of various imaging techniques for symptomatic postpartum OVT

ReferenceStudy designNClinical presentation (n)Imaging modality (n)Test characteristics
10  Retrospective case series Postpartum flank pain (4), fever (3), dyspnea (1), leukocytosis (1) Ultrasonography with Doppler (7) Sensitivity: 100% (7/7) 
CT with contrast (3) Sensitivity: 100% (3/3) 
14  Prospective cohort study 26 (9 confirmed cases) Postpartum fever unresponsive to ≥48 h of antibiotics Doppler ultrasonography (26) Sensitivity: 55.6% 
Specificity: 41.2% 
CT with contrast (25) Sensitivity: 77.8% 
Specificity: 62.5% 
MRI/MRA method (24) Sensitivity: 100% 
Specificity: 100% 
12  Prospective cohort study 76 (12 confirmed cases) Postpartum fever for ≥5 d unresponsive to antibiotics Ultrasonography Sensitivity: 50% (95% CI, 22-78%) 
Specificity: 99% (95% CI, 95-100%) 
NPV: 95% (95% CI, 89-98%) 
PPV: 85% (95% CI, 42-49) 
CT with contrast Sensitivity: 100% (95% CI, 70-100%) 
Specificity: 99% (95% CI, 95-100%) 
NPV: 100% (95% CI, 96-100%) 
PPV: 92% (95% CI, 62-100%) 
MRI Sensitivity: 92% (95% CI, 60-100%) 
Specificity: 100% (95% CI, 96-100%) 
NPV: 99% (95% CI, 95-100%) 
PPV: 100% (95% CI, 68-100%) 
9  Retrospective case series 10 Postpartum fever/septic shock (9) and abdominal pain (9) Doppler ultrasonography (10) Sensitivity: 80% (8/10: 1 false negative confirmed on laparotomy; 1 inconclusive confirmed on CT scan) 
ReferenceStudy designNClinical presentation (n)Imaging modality (n)Test characteristics
10  Retrospective case series Postpartum flank pain (4), fever (3), dyspnea (1), leukocytosis (1) Ultrasonography with Doppler (7) Sensitivity: 100% (7/7) 
CT with contrast (3) Sensitivity: 100% (3/3) 
14  Prospective cohort study 26 (9 confirmed cases) Postpartum fever unresponsive to ≥48 h of antibiotics Doppler ultrasonography (26) Sensitivity: 55.6% 
Specificity: 41.2% 
CT with contrast (25) Sensitivity: 77.8% 
Specificity: 62.5% 
MRI/MRA method (24) Sensitivity: 100% 
Specificity: 100% 
12  Prospective cohort study 76 (12 confirmed cases) Postpartum fever for ≥5 d unresponsive to antibiotics Ultrasonography Sensitivity: 50% (95% CI, 22-78%) 
Specificity: 99% (95% CI, 95-100%) 
NPV: 95% (95% CI, 89-98%) 
PPV: 85% (95% CI, 42-49) 
CT with contrast Sensitivity: 100% (95% CI, 70-100%) 
Specificity: 99% (95% CI, 95-100%) 
NPV: 100% (95% CI, 96-100%) 
PPV: 92% (95% CI, 62-100%) 
MRI Sensitivity: 92% (95% CI, 60-100%) 
Specificity: 100% (95% CI, 96-100%) 
NPV: 99% (95% CI, 95-100%) 
PPV: 100% (95% CI, 68-100%) 
9  Retrospective case series 10 Postpartum fever/septic shock (9) and abdominal pain (9) Doppler ultrasonography (10) Sensitivity: 80% (8/10: 1 false negative confirmed on laparotomy; 1 inconclusive confirmed on CT scan) 

MRA: magnetic resonance angiography; NPV, negative predictive value; PPV, positive predictive value.

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