Digital subtraction angiography of the abdominal aorta and renal arteries. Comparison with conventional aortography.

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was used to study the cardiovascular system in more than 400 patients and was specifically compared with conventional angiography of the aorta and renal arteries in 30 patients. For the renal arteries, the overall accuracy of DSA was 71% (50/70). Excluding 11 cases of inadequate visualization of the renal arteries on DSA, the sensitivity of the new technique was 93% (55/59) and the specificity 91.5% (54/59). Aortic disease, including intravascular clots and occlusions, was faithfully delineated by DSA.