Evaluation of celiac and mesenteric vascular disease with duplex ultrasonography.

A retrospective study of 25 patients was performed to evaluate the applicability of duplex ultrasonography to the celiac and superior mesenteric circulation. Lateral contrast aortograms were compared to the pulsed-Doppler spectral data from duplex examinations in fasting subjects. A significant correlation was identified between the celiac-aortic diastolic ratio and the degree of stenosis measured angiographically, but such a relationship could not be established for the superior mesenteric artery. These data suggest that duplex ultrasonography may not be a reliable screening test for mesenteric vascular disease.