Distribution and symmetry of arteriosclerotic lesions of the lower extremities: an arteriographic study of 200 limbs.

Lower-extremity arteriograms of 100 candidates for vascular surgery were reviewed. All the arteries in the 200 limbs were visualized and graded as normal, irregular, stenotic, or occluded. The occurrence of hemodynamically significant disease (stenosis or occlusion) was markedly different in various arteries: iliac--37%, common femoral--9%, superficial femoral--58%, deep femoral--19%, popliteal--17.5%, tibialis anterior--27.5%, tibialis posterior--28.5%, and peroneal--16.5%. A remarkable symmetry was observed between the two lower limbs. In 53-76% of contralateral vessels the arteriographic picture was identical. When one degree of difference in arteriosclerotic involvement was allowed, the symmetry increased to 80-96%.