Measurement of global cerebral circulation time using power duplex echo-contrast bolus tracking

Ultrasound assessment of global cerebral circulation time (CCT) using echo-contrast bolus tracking is a new approach to characterise the perfusion status of the human brain. We present the analysis of global CCT in 36 healthy volunteers and one patient with a cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM), measured by extracranial power duplex. CCT was defined as the time interval between bolus arrival in the internal carotid artery and internal jugular vein. CCT in the volunteer group was 7.5 +/- 1.1 s (mean +/- SD). Values did not correlate with age, gender, blood pressure or blood flow velocity. Measurement in the AVM patient revealed a CCT of 1.5 s. Ultrasonographic CCT analysis is a promising new tool for the evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics.