Transcranial ultrasound - Clinical applications in cerebral ischaemia

Abstract

Transcranial ultrasound can rapidly and non-invasively image blood flow in the major basal intracranial arteries. Its accuracy makes it acceptable for use in screening for haemodynamically significant intracranial stenoses or vessel occlusions. Although it has a relatively limited field of view and is not technically feasible in approximately 10% of cases, the information obtained is becoming increasingly relevant to therapeutic decision-making in the prevention and management of stroke. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound or transcranial colour-coded duplex have the advantages of relatively low cost, ease of repeatability, and excellent safety and tolerability, but they provide inferior spatial and anatomical detail in comparison to angiographic techniques.