Incompetent perforating veins: comparison of varicography and ascending phlebography.

A comparison of the accuracy of incompetent perforating vein visualization using varicography and ascending phlebography is reported. A technique for varicography is described. Sixty-one legs of 50 patients were examined using both methods. In the calf, varicography and ascending phlebography were almost equally accurate, but for the demonstration of incompetent perforating veins of the gastrocnemius muscle and midthigh, varicography was considerably more accurate. It is concluded that varicography is a safe, simple, and accurate method for demonstrating incompetent perforating veins and complements the more conventionally employed ascending phlebography.