Continuous-wave Doppler of vertebral arteries in noninvasive diagnosis and management of vertebro-basilar TIAs.
Continuous-wave Doppler and angiography of the vertebro-basilar system were used in 38 patients with vertebro-basilar transient ischemic attacks. 63 vertebral arteries were studied. Among 47 normal Doppler parameters, 46 were confirmed by angiography. The sonographic diagnostic procedure showed a very high negative predictive value (97.87%), while the positive predictive value was relatively low (56.25%). Data from literature were reviewed. The authors suggest that when Doppler of vertebral arteries is negative, there is a very low probability that a follow-up angiography will reveal pathologic conditions calling for a surgical approach.
Amadori
A
A
2nd Neurological Institute, University of Florence, Italy.
Arnetoli
G
G
Nuzzaci
G
G
Stefani
P
P
D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*