Published in:
Open Access 01-05-2020 | Stroke | Computed Tomography
Carotid near-occlusion is often overlooked when CT angiography is assessed in routine practice
Published in: European Radiology | Issue 5/2020
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Objective
Assess the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography angiography (CTA) for carotid near-occlusion diagnosis interpreted in clinical practice against expert assessment.
Methods
CTAs were graded by two expert interpreters for near-occlusion. Findings were compared with clinical reports in 383 consecutive cases with symptomatic ≥ 50% carotid stenosis. In addition, 14 selected CTA exams (8 near-occlusions and 6 controls) were analyzed in a national effort by 13 radiologists experienced with carotid CTA.
Results
In clinical practice, imaging reports were 20% (95% CI 12–28%) sensitive for near-occlusion, ranging 0–58% between different radiologists; specificity was 99%. Among the 13 radiologists reviewing the same 8 near-occlusions, the average sensitivity was 8%, ranging 0–75%; specificity was 100%.
Conclusions
Carotid near-occlusion is systematically under-reported in clinical routine practice, caused by limited application of grading criteria when assessing CTA.
Key Points
• Carotid near-occlusion is severe stenosis with distal artery collapse; this collapse is often subtle.
• A fifth of near-occlusions were detected in routine practice. Many readers mistake near-occlusion for stenosis without distal artery collapse, either by not actively searching for subtle collapses or by not interpreting the collapse correctly when noticed.
• On the other hand, the novice diagnostician should be cautioned to not over-diagnose near-occlusion; other causes of extracranial ICA asymmetry also exist such as distal disease and Circle of Willis anatomical variants.