Carotid Imaging by Real-time B-mode Doppler in Cerebrovascular Disease

Abstract

Clinical application of noninvasive imaging of the extracranial carotid arteries was compared using real-time B-time Doppler and angiography (including DSA). Two hundred eighty-nine ultrasonograms (152 patients) were performed.
B-mode ultrasonography permitted the identification of several characteristic findings of plaques. There were several types of plaque: (1) homogeneous (2) heterogeneous (3) sonolucent (4) hyperchoic (5) others (skip plaques spotty plaque, etc.)
Overall accuracy was 84.3% in 127 carotid arteries. Correlation between B-mode Doppler and angiography is relatively good, but accuracy in complete occlusion and/or severe stenosis was rather low. Even relatively small plaque was apt to be found by B-mode Doppler imaging. The noninvasive ultrasonography examination is very a useful method of evaluating carotid artery disease, especially, in older patients or in postoperative follow-up of carotid surgery.