Color Doppler US findings in the diagnosis of arterial occlusive disease of the lower limb.

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) of the lower limb is a widely spread disease at the present time. After clinical examination, which includes a comprehensive history of the patient, different imaging modalities are competitive in the exact assessment of PAOD. Besides digital subtraction angiography and MR -angiography, color Doppler US is an established imaging modality in the diagnosis of PAOD. This article illustrates the typical color Doppler US findings in PAOD of the lower limb. Duplex images of normal and pathological findings are presented, and the limitations of the method are pointed out. Color Doppler US examination strategies in patients suffering of PAOD are outlined.