Key result
Multimodality imaging for suspected carotid artery stenosis typically begins with duplex ultrasound, followed by noninvasive methods like CTA or MRA depending on clinical indications and availability.
Why the study?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of different imaging modalities for evaluating carotid artery stenosis?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of different imaging modalities for evaluating carotid artery stenosis?
This review outlines the roles of various imaging modalities in carotid stenosis, highlighting DUS as the initial test of choice and DSA as the invasive gold standard.
Supports stepwise duplex ultrasound initiation for carotid stenosis; leaves open prospective validation of CTA/MRA sequencing.
Four diagnostic modalities are used to image the following internal carotid artery: digital subtraction angiography (DSA), duplex ultrasound (DUS), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). The aim of this article is to describe the potentials of these techniques and to discuss their advantages and disadvantages. Invasive DSA is still considered the gold standard and is an indivisible part of the carotid stenting procedure. DUS is an inexpensive but operator-dependent tool with limited visibility of the carotid artery course. Conversely, CTA and MRA allow assessment of the carotid artery from the aortic arch to intracranial parts. The disadvantages of CTA are radiation and iodine contrast medium administration. MRA is without radiation but contrast-enhanced MRA is more accurate than noncontrast MRA. The choice of methods depends on the clinical indications and the availability of methods in individual centers. However, the general approach to patient with suspected carotid artery stenosis is to first perform DUS and then other noninvasive methods such as CTA, MRA, or transcranial Doppler US.
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Adlová et al. (2015) conducted a review in Carotid stenosis. Multimodality imaging (DSA, DUS, CTA, MRA) was evaluated. Multimodality imaging for suspected carotid artery stenosis typically begins with duplex ultrasound, followed by noninvasive methods like CTA or MRA depending on clinical indications and availability.
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