This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pellerito, J. S. Articles by Naidich, J. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pellerito, J. S. Articles by Naidich, J. B.

Doppler Sonographic Criteria for the Diagnosis of Inferior Mesenteric Artery Stenosis

Department of Radiology, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York USA (J.S.P., M.V.R., C.R.G., J.B.N.); and Biostatistics Unit, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York USA (J.C.T.).

Address correspondence to John S. Pellerito, MD, Department of Radiology, North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY 11030 USA. E-mail: jpell5{at}optonline.net

Objective. The purpose of this study was to define the optimal Doppler criteria for the diagnosis of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) stenosis in patients with suspected chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). Methods. A retrospective review of 205 dedicated color and pulsed Doppler sonographic studies of mesenteric arteries was performed in 205 patients. All studies were performed in patients with suspected CMI. Correlative angiography was available in 50 patients. Results. The IMA was visualized in 176 of 205 Doppler sonographic examinations (86%) and in 92% of the correlative studies. The visualization rate for the detection of a patent IMA by Doppler sonography in this series was 90%. The ranges of the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and mesenteric-aortic velocity ratio (MAR) in the nonstenotic IMA were 70 to 200 cm/s, 0 to 33 cm/s, and 0.7 to 3.7, respectively. The ranges of the PSV, EDV, and MAR in IMA stenosis were 200 to 485 cm/s, 0 to 177 cm/s, and 0.69 to 8.1. The threshold values for severe IMA stenosis by logistic regression analysis (n = 42) were as follows: PSV, greater than 200 cm/s; EDV, greater than 25 cm/s; and MAR, greater than 2.5, with sensitivities of 90%, 40%, and 80%; specificities of 97%, 91%, and 88%; positive predictive values (PPVs) of 90%, 57%, and 67%; negative predictive values (NPVs) of 97%, 83%, and 93%; and accuracy of 95%, 79%, and 86%, respectively. Conclusions. We found that a PSV of greater than 200 cm/s was the best criterion for the diagnosis of IMA stenosis. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for the PSV were 90%, 97%, 90%, 97%, and 95%, respectively.

Key Words: Doppler sonography • mesenteric • stenosis • vascular

Abbreviations: CMI, chronic mesenteric ischemia • CT, computed tomographic • CTA, computed tomographic angiography • DSA, digital subtraction arteriography • EDV, end-diastolic velocity • IMA, inferior mesenteric artery • MAR, mesenteric-aortic velocity ratio • MRA, magnetic resonance angiography • MRI, magnetic resonance imaging • NPV, negative predictive value • PPV, positive predictive value • PSV, peak systolic velocity • ROC, receiver operating characteristic • SMA, superior mesenteric artery