Objective: To assess the application value of color Doppler ultrasound in patients at risk for peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)-related upper extremity venous thrombosis. Methods: From February 2010 to January 2012, 89 patients receiving PICC placement who presented with upper extremity symptoms underwent upper extremity venous color Doppler ultrasound scanning, and their sonographic features were analysed. Results: Of the 89 patients with PICC placement, 56 (62.9%) cases had the catheters placed in the right arm and 33 (37.1%) cases in the left arm. Ten (11.2%) patients developed PICC-related upper extremity thrombosis, of whom, 6 cases in the right arm and 4 cases in the left arm. Of the 10 patients, 7 were male, of whom, there were 3 cases of hematological malignancies, 2 cases of pulmonary malignant tumors, and one case each of malignant abdominal tumor and severe pneumonia; all of the 3 female cases were of breast cancer. Conclusion: Color Doppler ultrasound scanning is convenient, fast and non-invasive for diagnosis of upper extremity venous thrombosis in patients with PICC placement. Thus, it is recommended to be widely used.