INTRODUCTION: Imaging plays a crucial role in the management of patients with peripheral arterial disease. Due to its limitations colour Doppler ultrasonography is replaced by multidetector computed tomographic angiography prior to any vascular intervention in PAD. In view of this we evaluated the efficacy of MDCT angiography and colour doppler ultrasonography to diagnose peripheral arterial disease in lower limb.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the role of multi detector computed tomography (MDCT) and Color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) in imaging the lower limb arterial tree in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and to derive the benefits and drawbacks of each modality. To assess advantages and disadvantages of volume rendered images and raw images.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comparative study  included 30 patients with PAD who underwent colour doppler ultrasonography and MDCT angiography in our Institute following which the data was compared and analyzed to derive the benefits and drawbacks of each modality.

RESULTS: In our study, atherosclerosis was the most common cause affecting 25 (83.3%) the patients followed by Buerger’s Disease affecting 5 (16.6%) patients. In our study CDUS was better than CT angiography in the diagnosis of early onset (Grade I & II) cases and CTA was better in detecting and diagnosing grade III and IV stenosis. The delineation of the arterial tree, collaterals and vessel wall calcification was better visualized on CTA than CDUS.

CONCLUSION:MDCTA is an excellent tool for diagnosing hemodynamically significant stenosis and is needed to be performed before any vascular intervention is planned. Doppler is also an effective tool which can detect the lesions to a comparable extent when no intervention is planned.