title: A Prospective Head-to-Head Comparison of Color Doppler Ultrasound and Computed Tomographic Angiography in the Preoperative Planning of Lower Extremity Perforator Flaps.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This investigation compared the application of color Doppler ultrasound and computed tomographic angiography in preoperative planning of lower extremity perforator flaps.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a prospective comparative analysis of 40 patients with lower extremity defects who underwent reconstruction with perforator flaps. The position, caliber, route, and quality of the perforator vessels were detected by computed tomographic angiography and color Doppler ultrasound preoperatively. The results of the preoperative navigation with both imaging techniques were verified during the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Color Doppler ultrasound had a higher accuracy in terms of identifying (95 percent versus 90 percent) and locating (95 percent versus 82.5 percent) the perforators in the lower extremity. Color Doppler ultrasound required approximately 25 minutes for examination, whereas computed tomographic angiography required 46 seconds for the scan and approximately 22 minutes for the image analysis. There was no significant difference between the two methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative radiologic vessel navigation is capable of offering valuable information such as the perforator's location, diameter, and path; and information regarding the quality of the perforators, which can shorten the operative time and improve the surgical results. The authors recommend color Doppler ultrasound for preoperative planning when harvesting perforator flaps from the lower extremity. In cases where the patient has a metal implant, allergy to the contrast agent, or renal insufficiency, color Doppler ultrasound is the only option. In time, the use of color Doppler ultrasound and computed tomographic angiography in combination will be recommended to improve the accuracy of preoperative perforator navigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic, IV.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai, People's Republic of China; and Ancona and Rome, Italy From the Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Radiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, National Tissue Engineering Center of China; the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Marche Polytechnic University Medical School, University Hospital of Ancona; and the Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Unit, Villa Salaria Clinic.
authors.forename: Shaoqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Peiru
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grassetti
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazzeri
authors.forename: Parviz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sadigh
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicoli
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torresetti
authors.forename: Weiqing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: di Benedetto
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi Xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult