NONINVASIVE IMAGING MODALITIES IN DECISION MAKING ABOUT CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY – A COMPARISON OF DUPLEX ULTRASOUND, CT- AND MR-ANGIOGRAPHY

Purpose: Determining degree and morphology of stenoses is important for surgical planning, but controversy remains regarding the optimal preoperative evaluation to facilitate patient selection for carotid endarterectomy. Angiography (DSA) is considered to be the “gold standard“ for confirmation, but is also associated with a procedural risk of stroke up to 1%. Aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive, preoperative imaging modalities for evaluation of carotid artery stenosis. Methods and Materials: In a consecutive series of patients with high-grade stenoses (70–99%) detected by colo…