Computerized multiplanar imaging and lumen area plotting for noninvasive diagnosis of carotid artery disease

Some of the errors associated with pulsed Doppler imaging of the carotid bifurcation relate to the fact that the vessels are usually viewed in only one plane. To reduce these projection errors, a computerized ultrasonic arteriograph (CUA) was developed, which simultaneously produces lateral and anteroposterior images of the carotid bifurcation together with a histogram that depicts the cross-sectional area of the lumen at 1 mm points along the vessel. The area measured from the histogram and that estimated from biplanar arteriograms agreed in 46/57 (81%) of the internal carotid arteries studied by both techniques. The area histogram was positive for 91% of the arteries with arteriographically visible disease and was 79% specific for eliminating the presence of disease. The combined CUA study (histogram plus images) had a sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 80% for detecting any disease, 96% and 92% for evaluating diameter stenoses of 20%, and 89% and 98% or evaluating stenoses of 40%. These preliminary results suggest that the CUA may enhance the accuracy of pulsed Doppler imaging.