This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists
Limb ischemia is a relatively uncommon, but potentially limb (and life) threatening situation. There are many potential causes.
Reference article
This is a summary article; we do not have a more in-depth reference article.
Summary
-
questions
- are symptoms new?
- does exercise trigger pain?
- is it bilateral or unilateral?
- is there rest pain?
-
investigations
- CT angiogram
- accurate assessment of vascular supply
- clear demonstration of vascular anatomy
- readily available
- MR angiogram
- most scanners can perform an MRA
- some will allow an MRA without contrast
- subtraction imaging gives a roadmap of disease
- DSA
- gold standard
- contrast injected via catheter directly into vessel
- CT angiogram
-
making the request
- know the history and examination findings
- what is the question?
- common pathology