Legemate D A, Teeuwen C, Hoeneveld H, Ackerstaff R G, Eikelboom B C
Department of Vascular Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Ultrasound Med Biol. 1991;17(8):769-76. doi: 10.1016/0301-5629(91)90159-t.
To validate the use of duplex scanning in the detection of lesions in the aortoiliac and femoropopliteal arteries, duplex scanning was prospectively compared to intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography in 61 patients with peripheral atherosclerotic disease. Based on a peak systolic velocity ratio greater than or equal to 2.5 or the absence of a Doppler signal, the overall sensitivity and specificity to detect lesions of greater than or equal to 50% diameter reduction was 84% and 96%, although some segments in the femoropopliteal arteries showed a sensitivity of only 60%-70%. Occlusions were detected with an overall sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 99%. The existence of a bi/triphasic Doppler signal, a window in the systolic spectral waveform and an end diastolic velocity greater than or equal to 60 cm/s has additional value in further grading of stenoses. This study shows that duplex scanning is highly comparable to angiography in the detection greater than or equal to 50% diameter reducing lesions in the aortoiliac arteries. Further evaluation is needed for the femoropopliteal arteries.
