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[Validation of transcranial Doppler in Mataro, Barcelona]
1Unidad Neurología, Hospital de Mataró, Mataró, Barcelona, España. epalomeras@csm.scs.es
Introduction:
Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a new technique which is becoming increasingly used in neurology and is highly dependent on the user.
Objective:
To evaluate the reliability of TCD in our hospital.
Patients And Methods:
During a five month period, all patients who had a cerebral angiogram done, also had DTC within 24 hours. The TCD was reported on before the result of the angiogram was known. Subsequent analysis of the comparison of the results was done by a person who had not done the initial investigations.
Results:
49 persons were included in the study. The average time between the two investigations was 12.5 hours. In 5 patients the TCD was inconclusive due to a poor window. In 21 patients both tests were normal. Of the 14 patients in whom there were pathological findings on angiography, correct diagnosis was made on TCD in 12 cases, including those with stenosis of the anterior circulation. The two false negative findings of intracranial stenosis were in a vertebral artery and a posterior cerebral artery. The remaining seven cases were of patients in whom only one investigation showed signs of distal vasculopathy.
Conclusion:
The index of false positives of DTC showing intracranial stenosis was 0. All intracranial stenoses of the anterior circulation were correctly diagnosed.