Abstract

Different Evaluations between Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonogrphy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Ischemic Stroke

Author(s): Lijuan Wang, Ying Chen, Limin Chen, Yingqi Xing

ABSTRACT

Intracranial artery disease is the most common vascular lesion in stroke patients. The reasonable use of auxiliary examination is important. Herein, we describe a patient with a cerebral infarction. A transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) indicated that the flow rate of the bilateral middle cerebral arteries, bilateral posterior cerebral arteries, and the right vertebral artery were low, but did not exhibit stenosis. Meanwhile, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) indicated that the bilateral middle cerebral arteries and right vertebral artery exhibited severe stenosis. Owing to this inconsistency between the ultrasound and MRA, transcranial color coded duplex sonography (TCCS) was performed. TCCS indicated that the bilateral middle cerebral arteries, bilateral posterior cerebral arteries, and right vertebral artery exhibited low flow rate and no stenosis. Since the TCD and TCCS produced similar results, but were notably different than the results of MRA, we performed computed tomography angiography (CTA) and found that the bilateral middle cerebral arteries did not exhibit significant stenosis. Then, MRA re-examination indicated that the bilateral middle cerebral artery imaging was normal and that the right vertebral artery was thin. TCD combined with TCCS can improve accuracy of diagnosis. Proper examinations that are mutually complementary can increase the early diagnostic rate of vascular disease.