Transcranial Doppler echo contrast studies using different colour processing modes
M Kaps1, P Schaffer, K D Beller
1University of Lübeck, Department of Neurology, FRG.
Objectives:
To study the effects of different colour imaging modes on the contrast-medium-enhanced image of the intracranial cerebral arteries.
Methods:
Twelve healthy volunteers were studied transcranially after administration of 10 ml BY963 successively with Power Doppler (p-TCCS) and with colour Doppler frequency imaging mode (f-TCCS) in a randomized order.
Results:
The latency time (mean+/-SD) from the injection until the signal enhancement in the middle cerebral artery was 17.1+/-5.8 s for p-TCCS and 17.8+/-4 s for f-TCCS, and the duration of the optimal diagnostically useful signal enhancement was 44.2+/-8.2 s and 40.2+/-12.6 s respectively.
Conclusions:
Based on the measured parameters, both imaging modes were of equal value. Theoretical differences in sensitivity of the two methods play no particular role facing the immense signal enhancement after echo contrast application.
