title: Color duplex sonography in the detection of internal carotid artery restenosis after carotid endarterectomy: comparison with computed tomographic angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Internal carotid artery restenosis after carotid endarterectomy is a major postoperative event, but the clinically best suited means for diagnosis of restenosis are still debated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of color duplex sonography for detection of substantial internal carotid artery restenosis, verified by computed tomographic (CT) angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 210 consecutive patients with internal carotid artery restenosis, defined as restenosis of 50% or greater, verified by color duplex sonography. The degree of restenosis was calculated according to the European Carotid Surgery Trial guidelines. All patients underwent CT angiography. The specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of color duplex sonography were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 85 patients, internal carotid artery restenosis on color duplex sonography was 50% to 69%, whereas in 125 patients it was 70% or greater. When color duplex sonography was compared with CT angiography, only 2 patients in the group with restenosis of 50% to 69% were misclassified by color duplex sonography, in whom CT angiography showed stenosis of 70% or greater. No patient with stenosis of 70% or greater on color duplex sonography was shown to have a lesser degree of restenosis on CT angiography. When compared with CT angiography, color duplex sonography had specificity of 97.7%, sensitivity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 98.4%, and a negative predictive value of 100% for the detection of internal carotid artery restenosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Color duplex sonography can be effectively used as a primary diagnostic tool for evaluation of patients with suspected internal carotid artery restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.
authors: Vascular Surgery Clinic, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Milana Tepića 1, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia. nikaleksic@yahoo.com
authors: Nikola
authors: N
authors: Aleksic
authors: Slobodan
authors: S
authors: Tanaskovic
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Radak
authors: Anka
authors: A
authors: Mitrasinovic
authors: Jovo
authors: J
authors: Kolar
authors: Srdjan
authors: S
authors: Babic
authors: Petar
authors: P
authors: Otasevic
authors: Djordje
authors: D
authors: Radak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*