Related Experiment Videos
Peripheral vascular occlusive disease: accuracy and reliability of time-of-flight MR angiography
T R McCauley1, A Monib, K W Dickey
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
Purpose:
To determine the accuracy and reliability of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography for identification of stenosis and patent distal vessels in patients with peripheral vascular disease.
Materials And Methods:
Two-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography and conventional arteriography were performed in 22 patients. Four blinded radiologists independently graded multiple anatomic segments.
Results:
MR angiography allowed detection of more patent vessel segments than did conventional arteriography. For detection of significant stenosis (> 75%), MR angiography had 43%-67% sensitivity and 74%-89% specificity. Discrepancies in detection of significant stenosis occurred in 39 segments for the most accurate reviewer; 27 of these discrepancies were avoidable.
Conclusion:
For detection of significant stenosis, MR angiography has low to moderate sensitivity and specificity; however, observer variability appears to be a major contributing factor to the discrepancies. Greater reviewer experience or techniques for improving reliability may improve the accuracy of MR angiography in peripheral vascular disease.