Patients' preferences for MR angiography and duplex US in the work-up of peripheral arterial disease.
OBJECTIVE
To measure patients' preferences for magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and duplex ultrasound (US) in the imaging work-up of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).


METHODS
Ninety-eight patients, who underwent both MR angiography and duplex US, received a questionnaire by mail and their preferences for imaging work-up were assessed in a telephone interview. The questionnaire consisted of one question on which imaging test they preferred, a rating scale score ranging from 0 (not bothersome at all) to 10 (extremely bothersome), and specific questions on whether patients experienced discomfort due to the imaging work-up. Responses were presented as means and frequencies, and differences were tested by non-parametric tests.


RESULTS
Half of the patient population (50%) had no preference for MR angiography or duplex US, 41% had a preference for MR angiography, and 9% had a preference for duplex US. The average rating scale scores for MR angiography (1.6) and duplex US (1.7) were not significantly different (p=0.53). Four out of 98 (4%) patients responded that they experienced pain during the MR angiography versus 18 (18%) for duplex US (p=0.001). Eight out of 98 (8%) patients responded that they were anxious during the MR angiography versus 1 (1%) for duplex US (p=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the majority of patients have no preference between MR angiography and duplex US in the diagnostic work-up of PAD. Among patients who do have a preference, MR angiography was preferred over duplex US.
Visser
K
K
Assessment of Radiological Technology Program, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Bosch
J L
JL
Leiner
T
T
van Engelshoven Jm
J M A
JM
Passchier
J
J
Hunink
M G M
MG
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex