title: Diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease: utility of the vascular laboratory.
abstract: The risks of undiagnosed peripheral arterial disease (PAD) include progressive reduction in quality of life, potential limb loss, and unrecognized comorbid atherosclerotic (concomitant coronary and cerebrovascular) disease. Although a thorough historical review of symptoms and a comprehensive physical examination may lead the clinician to an appropriate index of suspicion, accurate diagnostic testing is crucial. Accredited vascular diagnostic laboratories provide a risk-free description of the presence, severity, and location of PAD. This article describes the basic noninvasive diagnostic tests, criteria for diagnosis, advantages and disadvantages of each diagnostic modality, and a strategy for PAD therapy.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diagnostic Laboratory, Heart & Vascular Institute, Morristown, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jaff
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; D006801:Humans; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010808:Physical Examination; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex