which is more accurate, corotid doppler or corotid MRA with contrast?!
Question: Which is more accurate, corotid doppler or corotid MRA with contrast?
Dopplar showed 50% stenosis on the right and 30% on the left. Doc ordered a MRA with contrast which came back perfectly normal. Which test should I believe. One dac says MRA and another says doppler....I was also told it all depends who is doing the doppler as somtimes they over estimate on those tests
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
If the ultrasound tech is very experienced, the the doppler.
MRAs of the carotid are, in our experience, generally CRAP. They tend to miscall a lot.
The best test is a CT Angiogram. The pictures are generally clear and VERY accurate. We base a lot of treatment decisions on them. I can't recall the last time we used an MRA.
In any case, 50% & 30% are pretty minimal. We don't consider intervention until a blockage causes symptoms OR until it's 70% +.
Good luck.
vascular surgery PA