Lower extremity arterial occlusive location and collateral artery formation in patients with diabetes: sonographic findings

Objective To review the color Doppler ultrasonography ( CDU) appearance in 49 cases of the lower extremity arterial occlusive disease in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) so as to summarize the sonogram characterization. Methods Forty-nine DM patients with lower extremity arterial occlusive disease were routinely detected by Logiq 700 ultrasound system with a 5-10 MHz linear transducer and occlusive location, extension, corresponding collateral arteries were all recorded. Results Ninety-nine arteries were occluded in 49 patients. Among these occlusive arteries, 73% and 18% were in anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery, respectively. Eight percent (8/99) of occlusive arteries were in the femoropopliteal arteries and 92% were in cuff arteries (91/99). Collateral arteries were detected in proximal and distal to the occlusive arteries in all cases. Conclusion Lower extremity arterial occlusion mainly occurred in the cuff arteries in patients with DM and extensive collateral circulation developed in proximal and distal to the occlusive segments. CUS is an important method of accurately documenting location and extension of occlusive and collateral arteries.