BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent striking introduction of transcranial color flow image (TC-CFI) in Doppler ultrasonography by Furuhata and Spencer has made it possible to investigate and appreciate intracranial hemodynamics more clearly in a clinical situation. The TC-CFI illustrates the blood flow velocity pattern as well as the exact observation angle at a fixed point of the vessel under examination. This minimizes technical errors in the hemodynamic measurements by making mathematical corrections of the data measured. Another advantage is that sourced data can be compared temporary in a clinical course at a fixed point of the vessel. We attemped to scan some AVMs and aneurysms.
METHODS: ATL made ULTRAMARK 9 (2.25 MHz) (sample volume from 1.5 to 3.0mm×1.0mm) .
RESULTS: AVMs were diagnosed presumptively by X-ray CT scaning and MRI in 10 patients. TC-CFI was performed in these cases prior to angiography. Nidus was roughly outlined in 7 cases. TC-CFI demonstrated an irregularly congregated mass of blue, yellow and red color, suggesting conplicated a mixture of small and large vessels. Doppler frequency sonogram in the nidus demonstrated a complicated pattern. It seemed to be mixture of artery, vein and turbulent flow and peak velocity was 160 cm/s. After partial embolization, a new vascular image was demonstrated, which was also seen in digital subtractionangiography. The Doppler frequency sonogram dropped to 100 cm/s. The final frequency sonogram was 60 cm/s when we terminated embolization.
CONCLUSION: TC-CFI scanning allowed evaluation of the complete timing of endovascular surgery.
