[Diagnostic potential of phonoangiography of extracranial arteries]

Phonoangiography (PAG) was applied to study the extracranial parts of cerebral blood vessels in 16 symptom-free healthy individuals and 92 patients with cerebrovascular disorders. The conductance of cardiac tones to the cerebral arteries was assessed in comparison between PAG and phonocardiography. Correlations were found between the arterial wall elasticity, luminal changes and heart sounds conduction. As the atherosclerotic changes increased in arteries under study, the tones conductance velocity increased and their amplitude decreased. With the vascular tone reduced, the heart sounds conduction velocity decreased and their amplitude increased. The 1st and 2nd tones displayed differential increase in conduction velocity in distorted and dilated arteries. PAG vascular bruits were characteristic hemodynamic disorders.