Ultrasonography in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Duplex ultrasonography is useful to evaluate arterial lesions of carotid artery and vertebral artery. Duplex ultrasonography is a simple and convienient technique to detect carotid and intracranial artery lesions, which is useful information for endvascular treatment. Transcranial Doppler and Transcranial color flow image are useful to detect occlusion or stenosis of intracranial artery. Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is a novel entity for cryptogenic stroke. In ESUS patients, Transesophyageal echocardiography frequently yielded additional findings that are mainly related to paroxysmal arterial fibrillation, paradoxical embolism, or aortogenic embolism. Venous limited compression ultrasonography of lower extremity is recommended in case of suspicion of paradoxical embolism to detect deep venous thrombosis.

Ultrasonography is useful for diagnosis and secondary prevention of acute ischemic stroke.