CAROTID BIFURCATION STENOSIS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY BETWEEN MR-ANGIOGRAPHY AND DUPLEX SCANNING WITH RESPECT TO DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY

Purpose. This study compared sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic a ccuracy of Echoduplex and Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) in the evaluation of carotid bifurcation stenosis. Material and methods: Twen ty-five patients with clinical signs suggestive for cerebrovascular in sufficiency (CVI) were studied with Duplex scan, MRA and Digital Subtr action angiography (DSA), Gold standard was the angiographic examinati on. Results. on equal value of sensitivity (80.5 %), MRA showed 96 % s pecificity versus 81 % of Duplex scan, 89.4 % diagnostic accuracy vers us 80.9 % for Duplex scan. As for stenosis over 31 Sb, the value of se nsitivity did not change i.e., 80.5 %; MRA showed 100 % specificity ve rsus 97.1 % for Duplex, 91.2 % diagnostic accuracy versus 89.1 % respe ctively. These values compared by the test for categorial analysis and correspondence analysis (p < 0.05) did not indicate any statistically significant difference. Discussion. on the basis of our experience an d as shown by current literature [2, 12] we can state that both MR-ang iography and Duplex scan fail in quantifing correctly carotid stenosis with consequent over- and underestimation [3, 4], However, they can b e considered effective diagnostic procedures in a screening program [1 2, 16]; they are accurate, safe and accepted by the population. Conclu sions. on the basis of the cost in planning the screening of a populat ion at risk for CVI, Duplex scanning is still to be considered the ele ctive procedure.