[CT angiography in carotid stenosis. Diagnostic value compared to color-coded duplex ultrasonography and MR angiography].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the accuracy of different diagnostic methods for the visualization of the carotid arteries and their pathological changes in order to avoid invasive angiography whenever surgery was considered.


METHODS
24 patients with clinically suspected stenosis or occlusion of the carotid arteries were prospectively examined via CT angiography. MR angiography and colour-coded duplex sonography (ccds) to evaluate the degree of stenosis and the extent of calcification.


RESULTS
In 36 cases stenoses of different extent could be documented with CT angiography, 33 cases were found using colour-coded duplex sonography and MRA. Sonography could not prove mild stenoses (< 30%), and in two patients with sonographically suspected total occlusion vessel perfusion was documented via CT angiography. MR angiography led to a overestimation in patients with high-grade stenosis compared to the degree of stenosis obtained via ccds and CTA. With regard to the diagnosis of calcification MIP, reconstructions after CT examination showed best correlation to the plain CT slices referring to length (94.6%) and thickness (89.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
CTA with MIP reconstructions is an excellent screening method and, in combination with ccds, CT angiography may replace DSA before surgery or intervention.
Steger
W
W
Strahlenklinik und Poliklinik, Freie Universität Berlin, Klinikum Rudolf Virchow.
Vogl
T J
TJ
Rausch
M
M
Pegios
W
W
Schedel
H
H
Heinzinger
K
K
D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
CT-Angiographie bei Karotisstenosen. Diagnostischer Wert im Vergleich zur farbkodierten Duplexsonographie und MR-Angiographie.