[Does the otorhinolaryngologist need Doppler sonography?]

Doppler sonography has not only proved to be a non invasive but also a highly sensitive diagnostic tool for imaging of functional vascular disorders. The otorhinolaryngologist who in future will have to deal with an increasing number of neurootological problems, such as tinnitus, vertigo and hearing loss, should cover the Doppler sonographic examination of the vertebral and carotid artery and its branches. Ultrasound examination of these vessels should be performed in all patients suffering from cochlear or vestibular disorders and bearing risks for arteriostenosis. Early diagnosis does not only point out causative vascular changes but also helps to prevent the patients from invalidising or lethal cerebral events. The combination of (Doppler- and B-mode-sonography Duplex sonography) enables the ENT specialist not only to rule out functional vessel disorders but also to look for morphological vascular changes. Duplex scan imaging is far less risky than angiographic procedures and in many cases it is superior to these invasive techniques too.