Practical value of phlebography.

: Phlebography is a useful examination if a standardized technic is carefully used, and it can be relied upon to diagnose acute thrombophlebitis definitively or to rule it out. The 200 consecutive phlebograms reviewed produced no mortality or pulmonary embolism, and only minimal morbidity. Phlebograms are also useful in mapping before varicose vein surgery and in distinguishing the leg swelling of the postphlebitic state from that of lymphedema.