Can a PET scan predict who will suffer chronic leg pain after a DVT?
NCT ID NCT03195777
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a special PET/CT scan can predict which patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) will later develop post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), a condition causing chronic leg pain, swelling, and ulcers. Researchers imaged 51 patients shortly after their DVT and followed them for up to 2 years. The goal was to see if inflammation levels in the clot could forecast PTS risk, potentially guiding future treatments.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- FDG (a radioactive tracer used in PET/CT imaging)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this imaging approach could help identify DVT patients at high risk for post-thrombotic syndrome, allowing earlier and more targeted treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage observational study (51 participants) focused on prediction, not treatment. The imaging method may not reliably predict PTS in larger, more diverse populations.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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