Version July 2025
| Condition | Distinguishing clinical features from DVT | Comments |
| Calf muscle pull or tear | An inciting injury in the history, bruising at the ankle, signs of bleeding on ultrasonography | |
| Edema of a paralyzed limb | Evidence of paralysis, edema may be longstanding rather than acute | |
| Lymphedema | History of pelvic surgery, malignancy, or radiation therapy | May have a history of congenital lymphatic disorder |
| Venous insufficiency | Varicose veins with venous ulcers, may be longstanding rather than acute | |
| Popliteal cyst | Posterior knee pain, knee stiffness and swelling, mass behind the knee (felt on knee extension), bruising around the ankle | DVT may co-exist due to popliteal vein compression, necessitating ultrasonography |
| Cellulitis | Warmth and redness often skip areas and may be associated with constitutional symptoms, including fever and leukocytosis | DVT may coexist, often necessitating CUS |
| Superficial thrombophlebitis | Palpable, tender superficial veins but may be indistinguishable clinically | DVT may coexist, often necessitating CUS |
| Inflammatory knee pathology | Knee symptoms, history of injury or arthritis | |
| Drug-induced | Known drugs, bilateral edema | May be unilateral if venous insufficiency is present |
| Heart failure-related edema | History of heart failure, orthopnea, findings of elevated jugular venous pressure and crackles, bilateral edema | May be unilateral if venous insufficiency is present |
