[Experiences in the use of color-coded intracranial duplex ultrasound]

Thirty patients (12 men and 4 women over 60, and 8 men and 6 women under 60 years) with angiographically intact brain vessels were examined by intracranial Duplex Sonography. The flow velocity within the Arteria cerebri media was found to show normal values. In order to examine the connection between the degree of seriousness of a one-sided internal carotid stenosis and the resulting flow velocity in both medial cerebral arteries, 74 patients (36 over and 38 under 60 years) with temporary neurologic deficits or transitory ischemic attacks were examined. One to three weeks after angiography, intracranial Duplex Sonography was carried out. The group of patients over 60 years with a one-sided 50 percent internal carotid stenosis showed significantly lower maximum low velocity values of the homolateral Arteria cerebri media in comparison with the control group. The group of patients under 60 years also presented with significantly lower flow velocity values of the homolateral A. cerebri media, but only in the cases with filiform stenoses or occlusions. The advantages and disadvantages of this ultrasound method are discusses.