Doppler Ultrasound
- How it works Uses high-frequency sound waves to create images and detect blood movement within blood vessels
- Suitable for
- Initial screening to assess blood flow
- Detecting narrowed or blocked arteries
- Evaluating the severity of vascular disease
- Monitoring treatment progress
- Pros
- No radiation, safe even for pregnant women
- Painless, no needles or contrast agents required
- Affordable and easily accessible
- Can be repeated frequently as recommended by your doctor
- Cons
- Cannot visualize very small or deep blood vessels
- Cannot provide as much detail about the vessel walls as angiography
Angiography
- How it works Injects a contrast agent into blood vessels and then uses X-rays to visualize them
- Suitable for
- Diagnosing and planning treatment for complex vascular diseases
- Providing detailed images of vessel walls and blockage locations
- Performing certain treatment procedures, such as balloon angioplasty, during the same session
- Pros
- Provides very detailed images of blood vessels
- Allows for treatment during the same procedure
- Cons
- Carries risks from contrast agent injection and catheterization
- Expensive
- Requires preparation and recovery time after the examination
Which One to Choose?
- If you need an initial screening or want to monitor your condition, Doppler ultrasound is a cost-effective and safe option
- If you suspect a complex vascular problem or need treatment planning, angiography might be more appropriate