Radiology, Vol 132, 687-691, Copyright © 1979 by Radiological Society of North America
Reliability of doppler scanning of the carotid bifurcation: angiographic correlation
S Bloch, HA Baltaxe and RD Shoumaker
The results of continuous wave Doppler scanning of 96 common carotid
arteries and their immediate branches were compared with those of selective
angiography. The overall accuracy of the Doppler technique for the
assessment of the common, internal and external carotid arteries was 98%,
81% and 86%, respectively with a sensitivity of 60%, 70% and 54%, and a
specificity of 100%, 93%, and 96%. When stenoses of 50% were considered
hemodynamically insignificant, the overall accuracy of the assessment of
the common, internal and external carotid arteries rose to 100%, 93% and
93%, but the sensitivity was only 100%, 83% and 53%, whereas the
specificity was 100%, 96% and 96%. This modality did not prove useful in
the detection of intimal ulcers and plaques nor could the degree of
stenosis be accurately graded. The above data indicate that contrast
angiography remains imperative prior to surgery.
