Few reports in the literature validate the use of color Doppler imaging (CDI) for the evaluation of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease, particularly in the tibial and peroneal arteries. This prospective, blinded study compares CDI to arteriography to address the following questions: (1) how well does CDI visualize arterial segments, including those below the knee? and (2) can CDI alone accurately classify the degree of occlusive disease? Twenty-nine men undergoing arteriography before a lower extremity arterial reconstructive procedure were studied with a color ultrasound scanner from the level of the inguinal ligament to the ankle. Color images were examined for the presence or absence of triphasic flow, poststenotic turbulence, color bruits, and collateral vessels. Among 636 arterial segments adequately visualized by arteriography, > or = 90% were identified with color Doppler imaging, including the tibial and peroneal arteries. With color criteria only, specificity was > or = 92% for distinguishing < 50% from > = 50% lesions and > or = 93% for differentiating patent from occluded arteries. Sensitivity for detecting an occlusion was > or = 97% in the superficial femoral (SFA) and popliteal arteries and 83% in the tibial vessels. For identifying a > or = 50% stenosis, sensitivity was > or = 85% in the SFA and popliteal arteries but only 79% and 86% in the posterior and anterior tibial arteries, respectively. CDI reliably identifies vessel location from the level of the groin to the ankle. For the detection of occlusions, CDI is an accurate screening tool in the SFA and popliteal arteries but is less accurate in the tibial vessels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)