Diagnostic characteristics of ultrasound scanning, conventional X-ray contrast and multi-detector computer tomography angiography when evaluating internal carotid artery stenoses on the basis of carotid artery endarterectomy data

This paper focuses on the results of 371 carotid endarterectomies as compared with those obtained during preoperative angiodiagnostics. After implementing a noninvasive diagnostic algorithm for patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency at our clinic, the number of operations has considerably increased. As the role of traditional angiography, the officially acclaimed diagnostic tool (The Gold Standard) for carotid stenoses, is now being revised, there is a need to determine to what degree the new diagnostic methods are reliable. At present, multi-slice computer tomography angiography (MSCTA) is recognized as the most precise technique. Ultrasound diagnostics and conventional X-ray contrast angiography methods have demonstrated consistent comparable results. MSCTA with intravenous contrasting could be referred to as a minimally invasive procedure. In practice, it causes no complications and allows for visualizing stenoses, occlusions, pathological tortuosity, structural abnomalities and extravasal compressions of the head's main arteries including an intracranial level. This procedure is also useful when identifying a distal lumen of arteries even in the event of critical stenoses.