[Color coded Doppler sonography of the vertebral arteries. Comparison with conventional duplex sonography]

In 60 patients the vertebral arteries were investigated to determine whether color Doppler imaging has advantages over conventional duplex ultrasonography. The vertebral artery was easily identified in the midcervical course (V1-V2 segment) with both methods. Visualization at the atlas loop (V3 segment) was rarely successful with duplex scanning, however, color Doppler imaging enabled good documentation of vertebral artery flow in 87% on the right and in 85% on the left side. Color Doppler imaging provided better evaluation of the vertebral origin (V0 segment). Although visualization of the ostium with duplex scanning was more difficult and time consuming, it was possible in 80% on the right and in 65% on the left side. Color Doppler imaging allowed more rapid identification of the origin in 88% on the right and in 73% on the left side. The special problems of visualization of vertebral arteries with both methods and characteristic color-coded Doppler sonographic features of pathological findings are discussed.