Comparison of intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography and conventional filming in peripheral vascular disease.

We studied a series of 114 patients with ischemic peripheral vascular disease angiographically by conventional film-screen (CF) and by intra-arterial digital subtraction (DSA) techniques. The quality of films and images was evaluated at four anatomic levels. We reached the following conclusions: a) in most patients a DSA study will suffice for diagnosis; b) an ability to see arteries was related to the film or image quality; c) in the pelvis, although most studies were of excellent quality, more CF than DSA were of excellent quality; d) in the thigh, both CF and DSA studies were mostly of excellent quality; e) in the leg and foot, more DSA than CF studies were of excellent quality; f) patients preferred DSA to CF studies; g) physician acceptance of DSA was mixed; and h) good patient hydration can reduce the potential renal complications of the larger contrast loads used in CF studies.