Pictorial Essay of Cervical Duplex Ultrasonography.

Objectives

Cervical duplex ultrasonography (CDU) is a simple, non-invasive, portable technique, that provides valuable high-quality visual information about the integrity of the carotid and vertebral vessels, plaque morphology and flow hemodynamics. CDU is useful in the assessment and follow up of patients with cerebrovascular disease as well as other conditions like inflammatory vasculitis, carotid artery dissection and carotid body tumours. CDU is inexpensive and invaluable in smaller centres.

Methods

CDU was performed in all patients in both longitudinal and transverse planes in the out-patient clinic. Brightness mode (B-mode) and Doppler waveforms were obtained. Relevant findings were presented.

Results

CDU provides real time visualisation of plaque characteristics and follow up, hemodynamic characteristics in Takayasu arteritis, visualisation of dissection.

Conclusion

With availability of MR/CT angiography, CDU can be an adjuvant in follow up, triage and early bed-side diagnosis of the vascular diseases. We present our experience with CDU in the out-patient clinics in this pictorial essay.