Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound provides rapid, non-invasive, real time measurements of the functioning of the vessels in the brain. TCD can detect narrowing of the blood vessels and clots within the blood vessels. TCD can be useful in diagnosis of bleeding, stroke, and spasm of the blood vessels. A probe is place against the skin of your temple, this is fast, painless, and requires no special dyes or radiation. The probe emits ultrasound waves which are reflected by moving blood cells within your vessels. The pattern reflected back by your blood cells is recorded and analyzed by a special computer program. This information is used to determine characteristics of the blood flow through your vessels. Blood vessel velocity is affected by age, gender, carbon dioxide levels, hematocrit, temperature, blood pressure and mental and physical activity. Intracranial artherosclerosis, or narrowed blood vessels, contributes to strokes and transient ischemic attacks. TCD can detect narrowed blood vessels and abnormal blood flow patterns which are associated with higher rates of vascular events. TCD can alert your team to an increased risk for stroke and heart attack.
For more information, please visit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3902805/