The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of persistent sciatic artery

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of persistent sciatic artery (PSA) compared to computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Materials and methods: From May 2002 to Dec 2018, 61 consecutive patients seen at Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute with a clinical suspicion of PSA were included. Ultrasonography was used to assess the abdominal and lower-limb arteries. The main sonographic criteria for a positive diagnosis were the visualisation of PSA, the enlarged internal iliac artery, and abnormality of common femoral artery and superficial femoral artery. These data were compared with CTA findings. Kappa statistics was applied to determine the level of agreement. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and Youden index of ultrasonography as a diagnostic method were assessed.

Results: Ultrasonography findings were positive in 16 of 61 patients with a clinical suspicion of PSA. The diagnosis was confirmed by CTA in 17 patients. There was one false-positive result and two false-negative results at ultrasonography. The kappa value was 0.875. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and Youden index of ultrasonography were 88.2%, 97.7%, 93.8%, 95.6%, 95.1% and 0.859, respectively.

Conclusions: Ultrasonography could be a reliable, accurate, and non-invasive diagnostic imaging method in the diagnosis of patients with suspected PSA.