Evaluation and Assessment of Doppler Ultrasonography Results in Comparison with Digital Subtraction Angiography in Diagnosis of Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis

Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) is the standard method for detection of carotid artery stenosis. This technique has high radiation dose. With the progress of imaging techniques, noninvasive or minimally invasive methods like the CT angiography, MR angiography and ultrasonography with Doppler or Duplex mode were applicable. This study aimed to evaluate and assesse the results of Doppler ultrasonography in comparison with the DSA in diagnosis of internal carotid artery.
Methods and Materials: 20 male patients with internal carotid stenosis > 50% who previously underwent the DSA examination, were examined with the Doppler ultrasonography. Obtained Structural and hemodynamic parameters from Doppler ultrasonography were analyzed regarding to German Society of Ultrasound in medicine and NASCET recommendations. The degrees of carotid stenosis resulted from the Doppler ultrasonography were evaluated and compared with the DSA results.
Doppler and DSA findings did not show significant differences (PDiscussion and The Doppler ultrasonography had high precision, sensitivity and specificity in our study. This method can be used as a noninvasive and easy to use technique in detection and determination of this disease especially in patients who don’t need angioplasty procedures.