PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J N Dreisbach
AU  - C E Seibert
AU  - S F Smazal
AU  - A T Stavros
AU  - R J Daigle
TI  - Duplex sonography in the evaluation of carotid artery disease.
DP  - 1983 May 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 678--680
VI  - 4
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/4/3/678.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/4/3/678.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1983 May 01; 4
AB  - High-resolution duplex sonography was compared with biplane magnified carotid angiography in a prospective evaluation of 161 carotid arteries in 86 patients. The duplex scanner combined real-time B-mode imaging (7.5 MHz) with simultaneous range-gated pulsed Doppler frequency analysis (3 MHz). The degree of stenosis was usually determined by the true and residual lumen of the carotid artery at the atherosclerotic plaque on the transverse image. The Doppler frequency signals were automatically converted to velocity data by a minicomputer. The accuracy of the duplex system in detecting and assessing stenoses graded in 20% increments is demonstrated according to specificity, sensitivity, and positive and negative predictive value by both cumulative and subgroup analyses. A 93.7% sensitivity was shown for minimal (0-20%) stenosis and 100% sensitivity for severe (greater than 60%) stenosis. An apparent limitation of duplex sonography is the differentiation of a high-grade stenosis from occlusion (sensitivity, 82.6%; positive predictive value, 90.4%).