Ultrasound diagnostics in phlebology^[*]

Summary

Since the introduction of the Doppler effect into clinical practice for the diagnosis of vascular and cardiac diseases, the technology has developed considerably. From the pencil probe (CW Doppler) to black and white duplex, PW Doppler, which was incorporated into a B-mode image, to colour duplex ultrasound (CDU) and beyond to more recent developments, such as power duplex and B-mode flow imaging. These terms are frequently confused with each other and medical reports refer to CDU as “venous Doppler” or “ultrasound of the leg veins”. This short outline attempts to clarify each term briefly in words and images.

Keywords

Duplex ultrasound - Doppler - CDU - PW duplex - B-mode flow - varicosis

^* This article contains text sections from Mendoza E, “Duplexsonographie der oberflächlichen Beinvenen” in: “Phlebologischer Bildatlas” [“Duplex ultrasound scanning of the superficial leg veins” in: “Phlebology Imaging Atlas”] Rabe E, Stücker M, Viavital publishing house, 2015, by courtesy of the Viavital publishing house, Cologne