Ultrasound assessment of brain supplying arteries (transcranial)

Klaus Gröschel; Judith U. Harrer; Ulf Schminke; Emilia Stegemann; Jens Allendörfer

doi:10.1055/a-2103-4981

Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound, Table of Contents

Ultraschall Med 2023; 44(05): 468-486
DOI: 10.1055/a-2103-4981

Continuing Medical Education

Ultrasound assessment of brain supplying arteries (transcranial)

Article in several languages: English | deutsch

Klaus Gröschel

¹Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany

,

Judith U. Harrer

²Neurology, Private Practice Villa Pfahler, St. Ingbert, Germany

³Neurology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany

,

Ulf Schminke

⁴Neurology, University Medicine, Greifswald, Germany

,

Emilia Stegemann

⁵Clinic for internal medicine, diabetology and angiology, Agaplesion Diakonie Clinics, Kassel, Germany

⁶Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Giessen-Marburg, Marburg, Germany

,

Jens Allendörfer

⁷Neurology, Asklepios Neurologic Clinic Bad Salzhausen, Nidda, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Ultrasonography of intracranial arteries is a non-invasive and highly efficient method for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with cerebrovascular diseases, also in the bedside setting of the critically ill. For reliable assessment and interpretation of sonographic findings, the technique requires – apart from dedicated anatomic and pathophysiological knowledge of cerebral arteries and their hemodynamics – the comprehension of alternative imaging modalities such as CT or MR angiography. This article reviews the transcranial color-coded duplex sonographic (TCCS) examination technique including the transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) for a standardized ultrasound assessment of the intracranial arteries and typical pathological cases. As a complementary tool, transorbital ultrasound for the assessment of the optic nerve sheath diameter and adjacent structures is also described in this article.

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References

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