A retrospective study on the diagnostic value of ultrasonography for primary vascular leiomyosarcoma misdiagnosed as deep vein thrombosis.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the value of ultrasonography in differentiating primary vascular tumors from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a common misdiagnosis. We retrospectively analyzed the ultrasound data of five patients with primary vascular tumors initially misdiagnosed as DVT who were treated at our hospital from January 2018 to December 2024. Our findings revealed characteristic ultrasound features unique to these tumors; however, these distinguishing features were frequently overlooked or misinterpreted during initial assessments. This study highlighted the importance of careful analysis of ultrasound image characteristics, recommending the following strategies to improve diagnostic accuracy, considering clinical manifestations, using advanced ultrasound techniques (e.g., elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound), and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration between ultrasonographers and vascular surgeons. These insights are of significant importance in improving early diagnosis and reducing misdiagnosis of primary vascular tumors.