Ailments & Conditions

Stages of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

How to Diagnose and Stage Chronic Venous Insufficiency

To diagnose chronic venous insufficiency, your doctor first needs to perform a physical exam on the skin to look for typical signs, such as varicose veins or bulging. In addition, other tests may be done to rule out other causes, such as diabetes, lymphedema, kidney problems, liver issuers, congestive heart failure, cysts, and thyroid issues. Some imaging techniques, such as air plethysmography and venous duplex imaging, may be used to examine the function and structure of the veins, which help diagnose and stage the condition better. Once you are diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, staging can help identify how the disease progresses. This is important to determine the right treatment plan and outlook. [2]