title: Doppler color imaging. Peripheral arteries.
abstract: The impact of DCI on the evaluation of peripheral vascular disease is considerable. In essence, it is noninvasive angiography without the limitations of that modality. However, the pressure gradient can only be inferred, and pull-through pressure gradients are still the most accurate estimation of adequacy of flow. Nonetheless, segmental blood pressures and the peak velocities measured by duplex Doppler provide a noninvasive alternative for estimating pressure gradients. DCI imaging has greatly improved the perception of focal abnormalities and allows rapid appreciation of global hemodynamics. As further technical refinements improve resolution and sensitivity, color Doppler may eventually supplant angiography as the primary imaging modality in peripheral arterial diagnosis, reserving arteriography for interventional procedures.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pellerito
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003116:Color; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014654:Vascular Patency