Three-dimensional transcranial color-coded sonography for the examination of the arteries of the circle of Willis.
Because examinations of the intracranial vessels using conventional transcranial color-coded sonography (TCCS) lack spatial orientation and reproducibility, development of a three-dimensional (3-D) imaging technique is required. Three patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis, three with suspected intracranial aneurysm, two with vascular malformation, and one healthy volunteer were investigated by 3-D TCCS using a magnetic spatial positioning sensor mounted on the transducer for simultaneous recording of the probe coordinates to create a volumetric data set. Three-dimensional transcranial color-coded sonography enabled good visualization of intracranial aneurysms and MCA stenoses. However, it failed to detect morphological details in vascular malformations. In conclusion, 3-D TCCS is a promising technique that opens new perspectives in depicting intracranial vessels and provides volume measurement of intracranial aneurysms.
Department of Neurology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
U
U
Schminke
L
L
Motsch
U
U
von Smekal
B
B
Griewing
C
C
Kessler
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial