Acute middle cerebral artery stroke and transcranial Doppler sonography

Five studies (Zanette et al., Stroke 1995;26:430-3; Pulci et al., JEMU 1991;12:190-5; Kuschner et al., Neurology 1991;41:109-13; Camerlingo et al., Acta Neurol Scand 1993;88:108-11; Kenton et al., Stroke 1997;28:1601-6) have validated the diagnostic and the prognostic value of Transcranial Doppler Sonography (TDS) at the onset of middle cerebral artery (MCA) strokes, but there is no large study and the interest of these investigations is often ignored. This report insists on the TDS methodological rules. It shows its value in the detection of MCA stenoses or occlusions (mainly from cardiac origin) and underlines its usefulness in evaluating therapeutical procedures and in defining hemodynamic consequences of tight internal carotid artery stenoses.