engleski

CORRELATION OF COLOR DOPPLER OF THE CAROTID ARTERIES AND ANGIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN PATINETS WITH SYMPTOMATIC CAROTID ARTERY STENOSIS

In order to validate ultrasonographic criteria for various degrees of carotid stenosis, we retrospectively analysed patients who underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of carotid arteries. The data of 91 patients with symptomatic carotid disease, who underwent ultrasound first, followed by DSA were evaluated. Color Doppler criteria were previously set for four categories of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis: mild, moderate, severe and occlusion. DSA categorised the ICA stenosis in the same categories. Spearman's Rank Correaltion Coefficient was calculated. Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient between ultrasound and angiography in detecting various degree of carotid stenosis was 0.86. Ultrasonographic criteria for severe ICA stenosis detection showed sensitivity 75%, specificity 98%, false positive ratio 20%, false negative ratio 25%, positive predictive value 95%, negative predictive value 85% and accurate diagnosis 88%. Ultrasonographic criteria for ICA occlusion showed sensitivity 82%, specificity 98%, false positive ratio 10%, false negative ratio 18%, positive predictive value 94%, negative predictive value 95% and accurate diagnosis 95%. Our combination of various ultrasonographic parameters was sensitive for detection of various degrees of carotid stenosis, with a very high specificity, enabling high positive predictive values for such classification. A lower sensitivity was obtained due to lower sensitivity of angiography in detecting minimal flow in near-occluded ICA's.

carotid artery; color Doppler; angiography

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