Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Prospective studies were eligible for inclusion.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies that used ultrasonographic assessment of the upper extremity veins by one or more of the following techniques, were eligible for inclusion: real-time ultrasonographic imaging, standard Doppler evaluation, or colour flow Doppler imaging. The included studies investigated duplex, duplex plus colour flow, and Doppler alone.
Reference standard test against which the new test was compared
Although not a criteria for inclusion, the included studies used venography as the reference standard test.
Participants included in the review
Studies investigating patients with suspected upper extremity DVT were eligible for inclusion.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The inclusion criteria were not defined in terms of the outcome. The outcome measures of interest were sensitivity and specificity, either calculated or as reported in the included studies.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
Two reviewers independently reviewed each article or abstract. A third reviewer adjudicated any disagreements.