The diabetic foot: role of color-Doppler US.

Color Doppler US is a first choice instrumental exam for the diagnosis and staging of peripheral arterial occlusive disease in diabetic patients. Normal and pathological findings are analyzed to establish the potential and limitations of the procedure. Color Doppler US is a noninvasive, reproducible and cost-effective procedure. Direct morphologic and flowmetric evaluations of stenotic-occlusive alterations, and indirect evaluations based on the interpretation of velocimetry findings proximal and distal to the lesions, are feasible. The conventional basic exam can be enhanced with the power module. Encouraging experimental results are observed with the use of echographic contrast media. Disadvantages of the procedure are related to the poor panoramic view, subjective (operator-dependent) interpretation and limitations related to the physics of ultrasound.