The Effect of the Introduction of MR and CT Angiography on the Utilization of Catheter Angiography for Peripheral Arterial Disease

Among radiologists, a substitution effect occurred, in that noninvasive procedures such as MRA and CTA progressively replaced an invasive procedure, DCA. However, the rapid increase in DCA utilization among cardiologists and surgeons led to an increase in the overall utilization rate of angiographic procedures for diagnosing PAD. Increasing self-referral for an invasive procedure such as DCA among these two specialties is of concern at a time when less expensive, noninvasive alternatives are readily available.