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Technical limits in transcranial Doppler recording: inadequate acoustic windows
M Marinoni1, A Ginanneschi, P Forleo
1Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Italy.
Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Transcranial Doppler (TCD) assessments are limited by acoustic window availability. This study found inadequate temporal acoustic windows more common in females and occipital windows in males, with aging impacting temporal windows.
Area of Science:
- Neurosonology
- Vascular Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is crucial for assessing intracranial blood flow velocity.
- An inadequate acoustic window is a significant limitation for TCD utilization, particularly in elderly cerebrovascular patients.
- Previous studies indicate a higher prevalence of inadequate temporal acoustic windows (TAW) in older individuals and females.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of inadequate acoustic windows (TAW and occipital acoustic window - OAW) in a large cohort.
- To investigate the influence of age and sex on TAW and OAW inadequacy.
Main Methods:
- A consecutive series of 624 subjects (376 males, 248 females; age 2-86 years) underwent standard TCD examination.
- Inadequate acoustic window was defined as the absence of a signal from basal arteries.
- Prevalence rates for inadequate TAW and OAW were calculated.
Main Results:
- The overall rate of inadequate TAW was 8.2%, and inadequate OAW was 9.0%.
- Inadequate TAW was more prevalent in females than males.
- Inadequate OAW was more prevalent in males than females, and aging significantly affected TAW inadequacy but not OAW inadequacy.
Conclusions:
- Sex influences the prevalence of inadequate TAW and OAW differently.
- Aging is confirmed to impact the adequacy of the temporal acoustic window.
- Anatomical variations between the temporal and occipital regions likely explain the differing prevalence rates of TAW and OAW.