title: [Validation of transcranial Doppler in Mataro, Barcelona].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a new technique which is becoming increasingly used in neurology and is highly dependent on the user.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reliability of TCD in our hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a five month period, all patients who had a cerebral angiogram done, also had DTC within 24 hours. The TCD was reported on before the result of the angiogram was known. Subsequent analysis of the comparison of the results was done by a person who had not done the initial investigations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  49 persons were included in the study. The average time between the two investigations was 12.5 hours. In 5 patients the TCD was inconclusive due to a poor window. In 21 patients both tests were normal. Of the 14 patients in whom there were pathological findings on angiography, correct diagnosis was made on TCD in 12 cases, including those with stenosis of the anterior circulation. The two false negative findings of intracranial stenosis were in a vertebral artery and a posterior cerebral artery. The remaining seven cases were of patients in whom only one investigation showed signs of distal vasculopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The index of false positives of DTC showing intracranial stenosis was 0. All intracranial stenoses of the anterior circulation were correctly diagnosed.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Neurología, Hospital de Mataró, Mataró, Barcelona, España. epalomeras@csm.scs.es
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palomeras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abellán
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fossas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020762:Infarction, Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods*; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*