Use of magnetic resonance angiography to select candidates with recently symptomatic carotid stenosis for surgery: systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if sufficient evidence exists to support the use of magnetic resonance angiography as a means of selecting patients with recently symptomatic high grade carotid stenosis for surgery.


METHODS
Systematic review of published research on the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance angiography, 1990-9.


METHODS
Performance characteristics of diagnostic test.


RESULTS
126 potentially relevant articles were identified, but many articles failed to examine the performance of magnetic resonance angiography as a diagnostic test at the surgical decision thresholds used in major clinical trials on endarterectomy. 26 articles were included in a meta-analysis that showed a maximal joint sensitivity and specificity of 99% (95% confidence interval 98% to 100%) for identifying 70-99% stenosis and 90% (81% to 99%) for identifying 50-99% stenosis. Only four articles evaluated contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic resonance angiography is accurate for selecting patients for carotid endarterectomy at the surgical decision thresholds established in the major endarterectomy trials, but the evidence is not very robust because of the heterogeneity of the studies included. Research is needed to determine the diagnostic performance of the most recent developments in magnetic resonance angiography, including contrast enhanced techniques, as well as to assess the impact of magnetic resonance angiography on surgical decision making and outcomes.
Westwood
Marie E
ME
Academic Unit of Medical Physics, Centre of Medical Imaging Research, General Infirmary, University of Leeds, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK.
Kelly
Steven
S
Berry
Elizabeth
E
Bamford
John M
JM
Gough
Michael J
MJ
Airey
C Mark
CM
Meaney
James F M
JF
Davies
Linda M
LM
Cullingworth
Jane
J
Smith
Michael A
MA
D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D018579:Patient Selection; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity