Color Doppler US imaging during pediatric neurosurgical and neuroradiologic procedures

Experience with color Doppler imaging (CDI) during 16 pediatric intraoperative and one percutaneous neuro-radiologic procedures was reviewed to assess whether CDI increased the success rate or decreased the procedure time, thus contributing substantially to procedure performance. Intraoperative CDI was used to rapidly identify abnormal vessels or displacement of normal vessels and correlated with preoperative studies. In six cases (four vascular malformations, one mycotic aneurysm, and one hamartoma), surgical resection was altered on the basis of flow information obtained. In one case of percutaneous embolization of a Galenic malformation, CDI provided information contributing to the cessation of the procedure. In six cases (debulking of three gliomas, resection of one vascular malformation, and two biopsies of nonneoplastic conditions), information was added but did not alter the surgical approach. In the remaining four cases (three cerebrospinal fluid drainage procedures, one posterior fossa decompression), no additional information was obtained. Consultation among the ultrasound staff, neuroradiologists, and neurosurgeons before the operative procedure maximized the usefulness of CDI, thus aiding in the success of surgery.