title: Transcranial Doppler series part III: interpretation.
abstract: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a quick, non-invasive, and inexpensive way to evaluate the blood flow in the basal cerebral arteries. TCD is most commonly used to evaluate for vasospasm in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and for vasculopathy in children with sickle cell anemia. It may also be used to evaluate intracranial vessel narrowing and occlusion; collateral flow due to extracranial vessel occlusion, arteriovenous malformations, and cavernous carotid fistulas; and to help confirm cerebral circulatory arrest. Systolic upstroke, velocity, pulsatility index, and direction of flow aid in the interpretation of TCD.
authors.affiliation: Neurodiagnostic Laboratory, Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Nicoletto
authors.forename: Marilyn H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Burkman
mesh_terms: D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods*