Applications of Vascular Imaging and Interventional Radiology Modalities in the Upper Extremity: A Review.

Abstract

Hand and upper extremity (HUE) vascular disorders are encountered frequently by hand surgeons in clinical practice. A wide array of imaging and vascular interventional radiology modalities exists for the diagnosis and treatment of HUE vascular disorders, some of which may not be familiar to the HUE surgeons. In this review article, we summarize the vascular imaging and vascular interventional radiology modalities and their relative advantages, disadvantages, and indications with respect to HUE pathology. We aim to familiarize HUE surgeons with the available types of diagnostic and therapeutic options for HUE vascular pathologies and aid interdisciplinary communication with vascular interventional radiology specialists during the clinical decision-making process.