How is varicose vein disease diagnosed?

As you all know, the swollen veins we call varicose veins are actually visible to the naked eye, and even the swelling of larger varicose veins can be felt by hand. However, the true cause of the disease, the deeper veins that exhibit valve insufficiency, cannot be detected with the naked eye or by manual examination. Therefore, a Doppler ultrasound is necessary for diagnosis.

A Doppler ultrasound identifies the damaged veins causing varicose veins and maps the damaged veins. It is crucial for the physician performing the Doppler scan to be a radiologist experienced in varicose vein disease for accurate diagnosis and successful treatment. In our country, a large number of varicose vein patients are condemned to unsuccessful treatments due to inaccurate or incomplete diagnosis.

An essential element for a complete recovery is that the physician who makes the diagnosis and plans the treatment also personally administers the treatment and follow-up. Only in this way can a sound treatment be achieved. Additionally, after non-surgical varicose vein treatment with Doppler Ultrasound-guided Endovenous Laser Ablation, Doppler follow-ups should be performed to increase the success of the treatment and prevent recurrence.

It is crucial that the Radiologist performing the Doppler ultrasound for varicose vein diagnosis also be able to perform non-surgical treatment of varicose veins. One of the most common mistakes in diagnosing varicose veins is performing the Doppler scan only while the patient is lying down, rather than standing.

If the examination is not performed while the patient is standing, this Doppler scan is incomplete and can lead to misdiagnosis. The key here is for the diagnosing physician to develop a treatment plan in mind during the examination and to tailor the examination's details to the treatment plan.

For all these reasons, international authorities state that the physician who will perform the Doppler Ultrasound-guided Endovenous Laser Ablation varicose vein treatment with Doppler Ultrasound is a crucial criterion for success in diagnosing the disease using Doppler ultrasound.

It is crucial for the physician performing the Doppler examination to be a radiologist (phlebologist, phlebology specialist) experienced in varicose veins to ensure an accurate diagnosis and successful treatment.

If you are referred to a different physician for Doppler diagnosis than the treating physician at the center you visit for varicose vein treatment with Endovenous Laser Ablation, you may not be at the right center for Doppler Ultrasound-guided Endovenous Laser Ablation treatment.

The ideal approach for varicose vein treatment is for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of this disease to be carried out by the same physician.

Today, the only physician specialized in performing these three tasks is Interventional Radiology.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Mahir Atasoy