Colour flow duplex imaging of occlusive arterial disease of the lower limb.
BACKGROUND
The development of duplex ultrasonography and colour flow imaging has greatly extended the scope of non-invasive assessment of lower limb arterial disease. This review questions whether recent advances might allow colour duplex imaging to displace arteriography as the primary imaging modality for native vessel occlusive disease.


METHODS
A literature review was carried out based predominantly on a Medline database search of English language publications from 1985 to 1996.


RESULTS
Increasing evidence indicates that colour duplex ultrasonography can accurately image the lower limb native arterial tree, and that colour duplex imaging can replace diagnostic arteriography in a large proportion of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Arteriography should no longer be considered the gold standard of imaging of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Future studies should concentrate on the efficacy of colour duplex sonography in guiding clinical decision making.
Pemberton
M
M
Department of Vascular Surgery, Leicester University, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
London
N J
NJ
D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional