One plethysmographic and two thermographic methods were evaluated against venography in 102 patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Seventy-one patients had venographically verified DVT, which in 21 cases was restricted to the calf. Plethysmography (PG) gave a sensitivity and specificity of 63% and 94%, respectively. The former was influenced by a limited sensitivity of 14% in the sub-group with distal DVT. The sensitivity and specificity of temperature profiles (TP) were 87% and 39%, respectively, while the corresponding values for thermo-camera (TC) were 83% and 55%, respectively. Using a combined diagnostic approach of PG and TP, additional evaluation of posterior and lateral profiles and pattern recognition, 96% sensitivity and 81% specificity were reached. The combination of PG and TP will be an essential diagnostic complement when venography is not possible or inconclusive, as well as having a role in diagnostic screening in a large number of patients.