Application value of three-dimensional power Doppler imaging in diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis in the elderly / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the application value of three-dimensional power Doppler imaging(3D-PDI) in diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis in the elderly. Methods A total of 72 elderly patients with history of hypertension, coronary atheroselerosis, diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia were included in the study. The condition of carotid artery stenosis was examined by colour doppler flow imaging (CDFI), 3D-PDI in free-hand mode, and measured by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as a golden standard in 24 hours. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated, and all the results were compared with CDFI. Results 3D-PDI directly showed the stereo image, including surface character and exact position of plaque,volume of vessel lumen and spatial distribution of blood flow. Seventy two patients had 85 stenosis of carotid arteries. There was no statistical difference in diameter stenosis rate between CDFI and 3D-PDI [(49.2±0.7)% vs. (52.3±0.3)%,P>0.05], and the area stenosis rate measured by 3D-PDI was significantly lower than by CDFI[(53.24±0.7)% vs. (59.3±0.4)%, P<0.01]. In the diagnosis of stenosis classification, the diagnostic sensitivities of light, mild and severe stenosis were significantly different between CDFI(88.9%,100.0%,100.0%) and 3D-PDI(100.0%,70.4%,58.1%) all(P<0.01). The 3D-PDI was better in diagnostic sensitivity of mild and severe stenosis, but specificity was not better than CDFI. Conclusions 3D-PDI is an easy, convenient method with no-wound and good reproducibility in the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis. It is more accurate than CDFI and similar to DSA.