title: Noninvasive methods in the diagnosis of extracranial carotid artery disease: a correlation with carotid arteriography in eighty patients.
abstract: Five hundred fifty-nine patients were evaluated for carotid artery disease in the Blood Flow Laboratory by the following direct and indirect noninvasive methods: 1. Periorbital doppler examination; 2. Ocular pneumoplethysmography (Gee); 3. Pulsed doppler ultrasonic arteriography; and 4. Sound spectral analysis with a pulsed doppler. Carotid arteriograms were available for comparison with one hundred fifty-seven vessels (80 patients). Sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy was established for each noninvasive modality by correlation with the angiographic findings. For detection of stenoses greater than 50% by diameter reduction, sensitivity was 98%. Sound spectral analysis and ultrasonic arteriography were found to yield a higher sensitivity when compared to the other noninvasive methods in detecting stenoses of less than 50%. In our hands, disturbed spectral flow patterns do not always correlate with the degree of stenosis in non-hemodynamic lesions. Our results indicate that proper patient selection for angiographic examination can be made through noninvasive screening.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000502:physiology; D010991:Plethysmography; D011859:Radiography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography