[Comparison of Doppler ultrasound, intravenous DSA and conventional film angiography in diagnosing stenosing changes in the area of the carotid bifurcation]

Abstract

The findings on Doppler ultrasound, intravenous DSA and conventional film angiography were compared in 66 examinations of the carotids with regard to their specificity, sensitivity and accuracy. Comparisons with the literature show that intravenous DSA equals Doppler ultrasound only if good or excellent results of the latter are considered. If poorer DSA results are included, diagnostic precision of this method is 5 to 10% less than that of Doppler ultrasound. Mural ulceration can be diagnosed by means of intravenous DSA in only about 50% of cases, whereas Doppler ultrasound is unable to diagnose this. Improved image quality of intravenous DSA, with better diagnostic precision, could be achieved by using ECG gating.