Comparison of duplex scanning and contrast arteriography: a community hospital experience

In this study the results of ultrasonic scanning combined with spectral analysis (duplex scanning) are compared with contrast arteriograms. From an initial experience of more than 1000 duplex examinations 78 patients were identified who had independently interpreted carotid arteriograms within 1 month of their duplex study. Duplex and arteriogram reports were then compared on 156 individual carotid arteries. This study demonstrated that duplex scanning can identify hemodynamically significant carotid lesions with a high degree of accuracy. These lesions of greater than 50% diameter reduction were recognized with a sensitivity and specificity of 95%, compared with contrast radiography. We were also able to distinguish carotid occlusion with an accuracy of 93% (10 of 11). These results independently confirm the findings of other investigators and demonstrate the validity of duplex scanning in a community hospital as an accurate noninvasive examination in cerebral vascular disease.