What is a potential disadvantage of duplex ultrasound in assessing carotid artery conditions compared to angiography?

Duplex ultrasound is indeed limited to two-dimensional imaging, which can be viewed as a disadvantage when compared to angiography. Angiography, particularly digital subtraction angiography, provides a comprehensive three-dimensional view of blood vessels, allowing for detailed visualization of their structure and any abnormalities such as plaques or stenosis. This threedimensional perspective enables clinicians to assess the spatial relationships between vessels and surrounding anatomy more effectively than a two-dimensional ultrasound image can.

In contrast, while duplex ultrasound offers valuable information about blood flow and can assess the presence of carotid artery conditions, its two-dimensional nature may not capture the full extent of plaque formation or the detailed morphology of vascular structures. Therefore, when evaluating carotid artery conditions, the ability of angiography to provide more nuanced and spatially aware imaging may lead to superior diagnostic capabilities compared to the limitations of duplex ultrasound.