[Transcranial pulsed Doppler. Problems posed by the temporal window (834 patients)].

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Medical Imaging
• Vascular Ultrasound

Background:

• Transcranial pulse Doppler (TPD) is a valuable tool for assessing cerebral blood flow.
• A significant limitation of TPD is the absence of temporal acoustic windows, hindering complete examination.
• Understanding factors influencing temporal window acquisition is crucial for optimizing TPD utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the key factors contributing to the absence of temporal windows in transcranial pulse Doppler examinations.
• To analyze the influence of patient demographics and technical aspects on TPD window visualization.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 834 transcranial pulse Doppler examinations.
• Statistical evaluation of patient age, sex, and technician experience as potential factors for temporal window absence.
• Assessment of the impact of using a single TPD device versus multiple systems.

Main Results:

• The overall absence rate of temporal windows was 13%.
• Patient age, particularly over 60 years, was a significant determinant for window absence.
• Women had a higher incidence of absent temporal windows (23%) compared to men (6%).
• Technician experience showed no significant influence on the presence or absence of temporal windows.

Conclusions:

• Patient age and sex are primary factors influencing the successful acquisition of temporal windows in TPD.
• The findings highlight specific demographic groups that may present challenges for TPD examinations.
• Standardization of TPD protocols and device evaluation may be necessary given the variability in window acquisition.