Transcranial color Doppler sonography in the emergency diagnosis of middle cerebral artery occlusion in a patient after head injury

• Published in: Clinical imaging Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 90 - 94
• Main Authors: KREJZA, J, FRYC, J, OWLASIUK, M, HUBA, M, BERT, R. J, MARIAK, Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier 01.03.2001
• Subjects: Arterial Occlusive Diseases - complications; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Craniocerebral Trauma - complications; Craniocerebral Trauma - diagnosis; Emergency Treatment; Fatal Outcome; Hematoma, Subdural - complications; Hematoma, Subdural - diagnostic imaging; Hematoma, Subdural - therapy; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Middle Cerebral Artery; Nervous system; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Sensitivity and Specificity; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - complications; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - diagnostic imaging; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - therapy; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial - methods; Sonography; Human; Doppler ultrasound study; Occlusion; Nervous system diseases; Craniocerebral; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Cardiovascular disease; Male; Cerebral artery; Trauma; Cerebral disorder; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Case study; Transcranial route; Color echography; Central nervous system disease; Skull disease; Medical imagery; Adult; Complication; Diagnosis; Emergency
• ISSN: 0899-7071; 1873-4499
• DOI: 10.1016/S0899-7071(01)00255-8

The purpose of this report is to highlight the utility of transcranial color Doppler sonography (TCCDS) in the emergency diagnosis of an ischemic stroke in a 64-year-old patient after head injury. An emergency CT identified a subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, a brain contusion and edema. The patient's status deteriorated after admission, and a second CT revealed an intracerebral hematoma and marked mass effect. Transcranial color sonography revealed no flow in the ipsilateral middle and anterior cerebral arteries, which was consistent with ischemic stroke. This case demonstrates that transcranial color Doppler sonography performed early after head injury may be useful in detecting associated occlusion of cerebral vessels.