[Echo-Doppler of the supra-aortic vessels. Anatomy and pathologic picture. Comparison with angiography]

Duplex-Doppler US is the most accurate diagnostic method for the evaluation of neck vessels. It yields morphologic information on the vessels--diameter, course and wall--and hemodynamic information on direction, velocity and characteristics of flow. In the detection of stenosis and occlusion of the carotid artery, US diagnostic accuracy, both as reported in literature and as observed in our personal series, is very high. On the other hand, US diagnostic accuracy is lower in the vertebral artery, because of the difficulties in studying the artery origin. The comparison of duplex US and angiographic results suggests the need of using both techniques, especially in the study of the patients to submit to surgery.