When diagnosing PVD, your doctor will perform a physical exam, review your medical history, and order blood and other diagnostic tests such as:
- Duplex ultrasound is a non-invasive test that uses high-frequency sound waves to check for blood clots in your thigh veins.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan is a non-invasive test that uses a computer to analyze a series of X-rays (enhanced with an injected dye) that are taken from different angles to create a detailed still picture of the arteries in your lungs.
- MRI uses radio waves and a powerful magnetic field to produce detailed images of internal structures.
- Venography is a non-invasive test that uses high-frequency sound waves to check for blood clots in the arteries.