Transcranial color duplex sonography in childhood and adolescence age dependence of flow velocities and waveform parameters

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Transcranial color duplex sonographic examinations in children and adolescents without cerebrovascular disease were evaluated retrospectively. Flow velocities and waveform parameters were determined and their side-to-side differences and age dependence analyzed and, finally, compared with analogous data of a previously described group of healthy adults. Methods: With a 2.0-MHz sector transducer of a computed sonographic system, the anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries were examined in 64 children and adolescents between 1.5 and 17.5 years of age. Angle-corrected systolic peak, end-diastolic maximum, time-averaged, and time-averaged maximum velocities, and the resistance, pulsatility, and spectral broadening indexes were determined in all vessels. Results: Mean±SD values for time-averaged maximum velocity (and time-averaged velocity) were 92.2±13.0, 79.9±17.7, and 63.9±13.6 (55.3±11.7, 40.4±10.4, and 34.2±9.2) cm/s, respectively, in the middle, anterior, and posterior cerebral arteries in children under 10 years of age; values were 83.2 ±11.9, 69.4±13.8, and 55.6±10.1 (50.8±9.0,39.9±10.5, and 33.1±6.3) cm/s, respectively, in children 10 years of age and older. Time-averaged maximum velocity decreased significantly with age in all vessels (P < .0001 in the middle and posterior cerebral arteries;