Comparison of Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomography angiography for endoleak diagnosis after endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abstract

Corresponding author: Uğur Demir, MD. Başakşehir Cam ve Sakura Şehir Hastanesi Radyoloji Kliniği, 34480 Başakşehir, İstanbul, Turkey. Tel: +90 553 725 49 10 e-mail: ugur.demir81@hotmail.com ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aims to compare the utility of Doppler ultrasound (DUS) versus computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the diagnosis of endoleaks. Patients and methods: Between October 2008 and December 2010, a total of 30 patients (27 males, 3 females; mean age: 70.1±12 years, range: 52 to 85 years) with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed at 1, 6, and 12 months after EVAR with both DUS and CTA. Results: Stents grafts were patent in all patients. Endoleak was detected with CTA in six patients. Four patients had type I endoleak and two had type 2 endoleak. On CTA, two patients with type 2 endoleaks were unable to be detected with DUS. Considering CTA as the gold standard, DUS had a sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 100%, respectively. For detecting type 1 endoleak, DUS demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 100%, respectively. For detecting type 2 endoleak, DUS had a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 100%. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that DUS is reliable method for detecting endoleak and measuring diameter of aneurysm during follow-up after EVAR. It may be possible to use DUS as an alternative to CTA in routine follow-up of the patients.