Stenosis of the internal carotid artery at the bifurcation. Radiologic definition and Doppler diagnosis
Nordal, H.J.; Amthor, K.F.; Dullerud, R.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 112(2): 194-196
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 1566245 Document Number: 388844
One hundred internal carotid arteries with varying degrees of stenosis were studied by angiography and doppler ultrasound. We found the minimal diameter of a stenosis, measured in mm, more suitable as reference for the doppler-based method than verbal assessment of a stenosis as slight, moderate or pronounced. The sensitivity and specificity of maximal blood velocity to diagnose high-grade stenosis is satisfactory for screening patients who might benefit from endarterectomy. Spectral velocity spread, or comparison of the velocity in the stenosis with that of a cranial reference segment of the artery did not increase the sensitivity to detect low-grade stenoses.