Evaluation of ulceration in the extracranial carotid artery with ultrasonography: a comparison with arteriography.
The accuracy of duplex-scanning and angiography in detecting ulceration in the carotid arteries was evaluated. Sixty-nine patients underwent duplex-scanning and carotid arteriography, and the findings were blindly compared to the operative specimens. Duplex-scanning had a significantly higher sensitivity (90 vs 48%, P less than 0.001) and accuracy (88 vs 59%, P less than 0.001) than angiography. There was no difference in specificity (84 vs 89%, P = 0.28). Comparison was also made between conventional arch angiography and selective carotid angiography in detecting ulceration. There was no significant difference between the methods (sensitivity 47 vs 50%, specificity 82 vs 100%). Finally, interobserver variability in detecting ulceration with duplex-scanning was evaluated in double-blind evaluation of the duplex-scans. The interobserver agreement was 84%. Duplex-scanning seems to be superior to angiography in detecting ulcerations in the extracranial carotid artery.
Hansen
F
F
Department of Clinical Physiology, Lund University, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Bergqvist
D
D
Eriksson
A
A
Maly
P
P
Takolander
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014456:Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography