Value of duplex scanning compared with angiography and pressure measurement in the assessment of aortoiliac arterial lesions.

To detect haemodynamically significant lesions in the aortoiliac arteries, invasive tests such as angiography and intra-arterial pressure measurement (IAPM) are considered valuable diagnostic tools. The value of duplex scanning as a direct non-invasive examination technique was prospectively compared with intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) and IAPM at rest, and after the administration of papaverine in 60 patients. Excellent agreement, as assessed by the kappa statistic, was shown between duplex scanning and IADSA (kappa = 0.81). A fair agreement was shown between duplex scanning and IAPM (kappa = 0.63), and between IADSA and IAPM (kappa = 0.63). Duplex scanning and IADSA both missed some less haemodynamically critical lesions if IAPM was considered the 'gold standard'. It is concluded that duplex scanning detects haemodynamically significant lesions as effectively as angiography and so may be considered a new and valuable diagnostic tool. IAPM remains necessary to detect some lesions of borderline haemodynamic significance. However, with future developments, duplex scanning has the potential to replace the need even for IAPM.