What is considered the gold standard for diagnosing peripheral artery disease (PAD)?

The gold standard for diagnosing peripheral artery disease (PAD) is angiography. This imaging technique provides detailed information about the arterial system, allowing direct visualization of blood flow and the presence of any blockages or narrowing within the arteries.

Angiography involves the injection of contrast dye into the blood vessels and capturing images through X-rays, which enables healthcare providers to assess the extent and severity of arterial occlusions or stenosis, making it a highly reliable method for confirming diagnoses of PAD.

While other methods like the ankle-brachial index (ABI) can be useful in screening for PAD by comparing blood pressures in the ankle and arm, they do not provide the anatomical detail that angiography does. Doppler and duplex ultrasound can help evaluate blood flow and vascular anatomy, but they too lack the comprehensive visualization provided by angiography, which is crucial for treatment planning and decision-making.