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Colour flow duplex imaging of occlusive arterial disease of the lower limb
1Department of Vascular Surgery, Leicester University, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
Insights
Color duplex ultrasonography accurately images lower limb arteries, potentially replacing traditional arteriography for diagnosing arterial disease. This non-invasive method offers a reliable alternative for assessing peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Duplex ultrasonography and color flow imaging have advanced non-invasive assessment of lower limb arterial disease.
- Recent technological progress prompts re-evaluation of imaging modalities for native vessel occlusive disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if advancements in color duplex imaging allow it to supersede arteriography for diagnosing lower limb arterial occlusive disease.
Main Methods:
- A literature review was conducted using Medline database searches.
- Focused on English language publications from 1985 to 1996.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests color duplex ultrasonography accurately images the lower limb arterial tree.
- Color duplex imaging can substitute for diagnostic arteriography in many patients.
Conclusions:
- Arteriography is no longer the definitive standard for imaging peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
- Further research should focus on color duplex sonography's role in clinical decision-making.
Background:
The development of duplex ultrasonography and colour flow imaging has greatly extended the scope of non-invasive assessment of lower limb arterial disease. This review questions whether recent advances might allow colour duplex imaging to displace arteriography as the primary imaging modality for native vessel occlusive disease.
Methods:
A literature review was carried out based predominantly on a Medline database search of English language publications from 1985 to 1996.
Results:
Increasing evidence indicates that colour duplex ultrasonography can accurately image the lower limb native arterial tree, and that colour duplex imaging can replace diagnostic arteriography in a large proportion of patients.
Conclusion:
Arteriography should no longer be considered the gold standard of imaging of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Future studies should concentrate on the efficacy of colour duplex sonography in guiding clinical decision making.
Related Concept Videos
Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
Arteries of Lower Limbs
Arteries of the Upper Limbs

