Journal «Angiology and Vascular Surgery» • 

1999 • VOLUME 5 • №1

MR-ANGIOGRAPHY AND DUPLEX SCANNING FOR CAROTID ARTERY EVALUATION IN PATIENTS WITH CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS

Todua F.I., Beraya M.V., Gachechiladze D.G., Diasamidze I.I.
MRT Department, Department of Regional Circulation and Ultrasonic Investigations, Research Institute of Radiology and Interventional Diagnosis,
Georgian Academy of Science,
Tbilisi, Georgia

Occlusive lesions of carotid arteries (CA) are known to be the most common cause of ischemic disorders of cerebral circulation. Introduction of new noninvasive diagnostic modalities in clinical practice (such as Duplex scanning (DS) and MR angiography (MRA) of extracranial vessels) has made this problem the most actual. The purpose of this study was to compare diagnostic potentials of MRA and DS in assessment of extracranial carotid arteries in patients with cerebrovascular disorders. Sixty-four patients from 15 to 71 year-old with cerebrovascular disturbancies underwent DS of carotid or vertebral arteries, MR tomography of brain, MRA of extra- and intracranial arteries and contrast angiography of major cranial arteries. In the most of cases (76.6%) investigations revealed atherosclerotic changes of carotid arteries. MRA appeared to be highly sensitive in diagnosis of hemodynamically prominent stenosis and kinking of CA. Diagnostic value of this method was 96%. DS demonstrated high sensivity in diagnosis of hemodynamically significant 94% or non-significant 96% stenoses of CA. In contrast to MRA, DS enables to investigate vascular wall condition, structure and surface of atherosclerotic plaques, consequent complication. Our results demonstrate that combination of MRA and DS helps to obtain comprehensive assessment of extracranial carotid arteries for further decision making.

P. 50-55

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