Do Doppler waveforms at the common femoral artery accurately predict iliac stenosis?
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate whether common femoral artery (CFA) Doppler waveform assessment predicted the presence of significant iliac artery stenosis as visualised on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).


METHODS
Three-year retrospective study of patients investigated using CFA Doppler waveforms and MRA. The patients were identified from vascular/radiology databases. Waveforms were reported real time as monophasic, biphasic or triphasic. Results were compared with MRA findings.


RESULTS
In 76 patients, 119 waveforms were assessed. MRA demonstrated 37 iliac vessels with significant stenosis. 32 (86%) had abnormal waveforms (monophasic/biphasic), 5 were triphasic. In 82 cases where MRA showed no significant stenosis, waveforms were abnormal in 35 (43%). Abnormal CFA waveforms have sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 57%. Monophasic waveforms alone were more specific (88%) but less sensitive (57%) for predicting iliac lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Whilst CFA waveform morphology is a useful adjunct in detection of iliac disease, normal triphasic waveforms do not exclude iliac stenosis.
O'Neill
S
S
Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, BT12 6BA, Northern Ireland, UK. stephenoneill@doctors.org.uk
George
R K
RK
Wallace
W D
WD
Blair
P H
PH
McKinley
A
A
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler