Contrast-enhanced three-dimensional transcranial color-coded sonography of intracranial stenoses.
OBJECTIVE
Intracranial stenoses are associated with a considerable number of strokes each year. The clinical value of a workstation-based three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction system for transcranial color-coded sonography was evaluated in patients with intracranial stenosis or occlusion.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients (13 men, 13 women; mean age, 57 years +/- 12 [SD]) with 36 intracranial stenoses or occlusions, as detected at two-dimensional (2D) color Doppler imaging (CDI) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA), underwent Levovist-enhanced power Doppler imaging (PDI), with subsequent 3D reconstruction. A workstation connected to a magnetic sensor capable of spatial localization of the probe was used to reconstruct 3D images of the circle of Willis from serial PDI images.


RESULTS
At DSA, seven (19%) stenoses were estimated to less than 50%, 24 (67%) were 50% or more, and five (14%) were occluded. DSA and 3D-PDI estimates of the degree of stenosis agreed in 33 cases (92%), with a weighted kappa value of 0.86. Disagreement occurred with two subtotal basilar artery stenoses and one subtotal middle cerebral artery stenosis, which were evaluated as being complete occlusions at 3D-PDI. Interobserver agreement between two experienced 3D investigators in estimating the percentage of stenosis was high (correlation coefficient,.98).


CONCLUSIONS
3D-PDI enables the investigator to reconstruct virtually any arbitrary viewing angle. Compared with conventional CDI, 3D-PDI offers easier spatial assessment of intracranial stenoses, and its findings are sufficiently correlated with angiographic findings. Because different investigators can postprocess the same 3D data, improving reproducibility and reducing investigator dependency in transcranial color-coded sonography may be possible.
Klötzsch
Christof
C
Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum der Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen, 52057 Aachen, Germany.
Bozzato
Alessandro
A
Lammers
Gero
G
Mull
Michael
M
Noth
Johannes
J
D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; C059891:SHU 508