SERVING ATLANTA AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA

Catch peripheral artery disease
before it limits you

Peripheral artery disease is diagnosed with simple, non-invasive testing that takes minutes in our office. No needles for the first test, no hospital, no downtime. Our fellowship-trained interventional radiologists confirm whether PAD is present, map exactly where the narrowing is, and explain what it means for you.

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No hospital stay
Same-day, outpatient
Covered by most insurance

~10%

Of adults are affected by PAD

Same-day outpatient

Typical in-office procedure

No major surgery

Image-guided through a pinhole

Board-certified / Fellowship-trained

Interventional radiologists

Diagnosis

What does diagnosing PAD involve?

Diagnosing peripheral artery disease means confirming that blood flow to your legs is reduced, then finding where. It starts with your history and a physical exam, moves to painless pressure and ultrasound testing, and, only if treatment is being planned, adds detailed imaging of the arteries themselves.

Most patients never need the advanced tests. A conversation, a pulse check, and an ankle-brachial index answer the question for the majority of people who come to us. When more detail is needed, we add it deliberately rather than by default.

WHEN TO GET SCREENED

Should you be screened for PAD?

Two paths lead to testing. Either you have symptoms that point to reduced circulation, or you have risk factors serious enough that we look before symptoms appear. Either one is a reason to schedule.

Symptoms that warrant testing

Leg cramping or pain when walking (claudication) that eases with rest
Numbness, weakness, or heaviness in the legs
Coolness or discoloration of the skin on the legs or feet
Sores or wounds on the toes or feet that heal slowly
Weak or absent pulses in the legs or feet

Reasons to test before symptoms start

Diabetes, particularly with neuropathy or any history of a foot ulcer
Current or former tobacco use
Chronic kidney disease or dialysis
A sedentary lifestyle, or age over 50
Known coronary artery disease, carotid disease, or prior stroke
Family history of PAD or early cardiovascular disease

Diabetes and PAD compound each other. Nerve damage can mask the pain that would otherwise send you to a doctor,
so the first sign becomes a wound instead of a symptom. If you have diabetes, screening is worth doing before anything hurts.

Get screened for PAD

screening & diagnostic tests

The tests we use, and what each one shows

We start with the least invasive test that can answer the question and add complexity only when it changes your care. Here is what each test does and why we might order it.

NON-INVASIVE

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

A simple, painless test that compares blood pressure in your ankle and arm. A normal ABI is about 0.9–1.3; a value below 0.9 indicates reduced blood flow and PAD.

NON-INVASIVE

Duplex ultrasound

Doppler ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize blood flow through the arteries, pinpointing the location of blockages, safely and without radiation.

CONTRAST IMAGING

CT angiography

Contrast dye plus CT imaging builds a detailed 3D view of your arterial system, allowing accurate assessment of narrowing throughout the legs.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE

Catheter angiography

Contrast dye and live X-ray produce the most detailed images of the arteries and allow treatment to be performed in the same setting when needed.

NON-INVASIVE

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)

Magnetic fields rather than X-rays produce detailed artery images. For patients who should avoid radiation or iodinated contrast.

LAB WORK

Blood tests

Lab work evaluates risk factors behind PAD; cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation markers, to round out the picture and guide your plan.

MEET YOUR DOCTORS

Board-certified PAD specialists across Georgia

Our team has performed more than 75,000 minimally invasive vascular procedures, including treatments for varicose veins, spider veins, and chronic venous insufficiency, and brings over 80 years of combined experience. Every physician is a board-certified, fellowship-trained interventional radiologist specializing in non-surgical vein care.

Meet with a specialist

Dr. Kevin Lie

Interventional Radiologist

Dr. Kevin Lie is a distinguished interventional radiologist and the primary specialist at Georgia Endovascular. With over two decades of expertise, Dr. Lie is a leader in providing minimally invasive solutions for vein and vascular conditions.

Dr. Sachin Sheth

Interventional Radiologist

Dr. Sachin Sheth is an interventional radiologist in Georgia with over 10 years of experience. As a vascular specialist and embolization expert, Dr. Sheth’s experience includes peripheral vascular disease, interventional oncology, vein disease, and uterine fibroids.

the process

What your first visit looks like

Diagnosis is a step-by-step process. We start with your history and a physical exam, then use only the testing needed to confirm PAD and measure its severity.

Your diagnostic visit, step by step

Your history. We ask how far you can walk before discomfort starts, what makes it stop, and how that has changed. We review your tobacco history, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, and family history.
Physical exam. Your physician checks pulses at the groin, knee, ankle, and foot, compares skin temperature and color between legs, and examines your feet for wounds, calluses, and nail changes.
Non-invasive testing. An ABI, and a TBI if your arteries are calcified. If either result is abnormal or your symptoms are convincing despite a normal result, duplex ultrasound locates the narrowing.
Advanced imaging, if needed. If we are planning a procedure, CT angiography or MRA maps your anatomy in detail so your physician knows exactly what to expect before treatment day.

Depending on the location and severity of your blockage, we may use balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, stent placement, or a combination. Most procedures take about an hour, and you can walk out and resume light activity the same day.

How PAD is confirmed

A diagnosis typically requires:

ABI below 0.9

Reduced blood flow to the legs on the ankle-brachial index.

Imaging confirms blockages

Ultrasound or angiography shows narrowing in the arteries.

Symptoms align

Claudication, non-healing wounds, or other signs.

Not sure your leg pain is worth checking?

Take our 60-second quiz to see whether you should be screened for PAD.

Take the quiz

WHAT A DIAGNOSIS MEANS

What a PAD diagnosis actually means

A PAD diagnosis is not a verdict. It is information you can act on, and acting early changes the trajectory more than almost anything else in vascular medicine.

Caught early

Most people diagnosed early manage PAD successfully with walking, tobacco cessation, and medication. Symptoms stabilize or improve, and many patients never need a procedure. Diagnosis also flags cardiovascular risk you can now treat.

Left untreated

PAD progresses quietly. Walking distance shrinks, pain appears at rest, and wounds stop healing. Advanced disease is harder to treat and carries real amputation risk. It also means untreated heart and stroke risk in the background.

After diagnosis: your next steps

Lifestyle changes
Quitting smoking, more activity,
and a heart-healthy diet.

Medication
To ease symptoms and manage
cholesterol and blood pressure.

Minimally invasive treatment
Angioplasty or stenting to restore
blood flow when needed.

compare the tests

PAD tests side by side

How our screening and diagnostic tests compare — so you know what to expect from each.

Test	Invasiveness	Contrast dye	Radiation	Best for
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) FIRST STEP	Non-invasive	No	No	Fast screening & diagnosis
Duplex ultrasound	Non-invasive	No	No	Locating blockages
CT angiography	Non-invasive	Yes	Yes	Detailed 3D artery mapping
MRA	Non-invasive	Sometimes	No	Radiation-free imaging
Compression & medication	Minimally invasive	Yes	No	Diagnose + treat together

Real patient experiences

What Georgia patients say about their PAD care

Rated 5 stars by patients across our Georgia locations

From the moment I scheduled my appointment, Georgia Endovascular impressed me with their amazing confirmation system and incredibly friendly staff. Every step of the process was smooth and well organized.

The day of my procedure the entire team made me feel completely comfortable and at ease. The professionalism and warmth of everyone involved was exceptional.

Sherif R.

I had the best experience! The office is very nice and welcoming. The staff were friendly and helpful.

Nurse Jade was extremely helpful and patient with me and answered my questions. She made me feel at ease.

Dr. Lie was very knowledgeable and kind.

Kimbria H.

Excellent staff.. Dr top notch ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️The entire staff was excellent!!! Bedside manners of provider and anesthesiologist was beyond top notch ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stephanie D.

Dr. Sachin Sheth did an amazing job thus far. I thought it was going to be painful….. Wasn’t sure what to expect. He explained everything to me and told me what he was doing step by step. I am so glad my Physician recommended me him. I’m seeing some result already. I would recommend my family and friends to go to him.

Leslie W.

Convenient to you

PAD screening and diagnosis
across Georgia

Non-invasive PAD testing is available at every Georgia Endovascular location, performed and interpreted by the same board-certified interventional radiologists.

Atlanta

3225 Cumberland Blvd. Southeast
Suite 520
Atlanta, GA 30339

Schedule here

Tucker

1975 Lakeside Pkwy
Suite 300
Tucker, GA 30084

Schedule here

Stockbridge

1035 Southcrest Dr.
Suite 220 + 250
Stockbridge, GA 30281

Schedule here

common questions

PAD testing & diagnosis FAQs

Medically reviewed by Sachin Sheth, M.D. · Updated July 2026

Still unsure? Our team is happy to answer your questions over the phone.

Am I a Candidate? Take the quiz 678.210.6259

How is peripheral artery disease diagnosed?

AD is diagnosed with an ankle-brachial index, a painless test comparing blood pressure at your ankle to your arm. A result of 0.90 or lower indicates reduced blood flow. Ultrasound then locates the blockage, and detailed imaging is added only when a procedure is being planned.

What is the ankle-brachial index (ABI)?

The ABI compares blood pressure in your ankle to blood pressure in your arm. Healthy arteries produce similar readings. When the ankle number is meaningfully lower, blood is not reaching your leg the way it should. The test uses standard cuffs and a small ultrasound probe.

Does PAD testing hurt?

No. First-line testing uses blood pressure cuffs and ultrasound gel. You may feel cuff pressure on your ankle, which is the same sensation as having your blood pressure taken. Nothing is injected and nothing punctures the skin.

Should I be tested if I have no symptoms?

Possibly. Many people with PAD have no classic leg pain, particularly those with diabetes, where nerve damage can mask it. If you have diabetes, kidney disease, a smoking history, or known heart or carotid disease, testing is worth discussing even without symptoms.

What happens after I'm diagnosed?

Your provider builds a personalized plan to manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve blood flow. Depending on severity, this may combine lifestyle changes, medication, and minimally invasive treatments like angioplasty or stent placement, plus regular follow-up to monitor your progress.

Is PAD screening covered by insurance?

Diagnostic testing ordered for symptoms or documented risk factors is covered by Medicare and most commercial plans. Coverage rules differ for testing done purely as screening. Our team verifies your benefits before your appointment and tells you what to expect.

FROM OUR DOCTORS