Orbital colour Doppler imaging in carotid-cavernous sinus fistula.
BACKGROUND
Colour Doppler imaging (CDI) is a recent advance in ultrasonography that allows for colour-encoded blood flow data of a vascular structure to be displayed simultaneously on a conventional real-time gray-scale B mode image. Real time A and B mode ultrasonography have been used for diagnostic evaluation of ophthalmic disorders since the early 1960s. The haemodynamic characteristics of the ophthalmic circulation have recently been studied by the use of CDI.


METHODS
We present three cases of carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas with different presentations. In each case, orbital CDI was used in evaluating the patient's condition.


RESULTS
Orbital CDI was successful in confirming the diagnosis in all three cases. CDI was capable of showing the haemodynamic changes in the orbital vasculature which resulted from carotid-cavernous sinus fistula.


CONCLUSIONS
This non-invasive technique presents as an excellent alternative to invasive vascular studies such as angiography for the diagnosis and evaluation of carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas.
Aung
T
T
Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
Oen
F T
FT
Fu
E R
ER
D000368:Aged; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002346:Carotid Sinus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color