A comparative detection of TCD and MRA on cerebral artery stenosis in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases

Objective To evaluate the clinical diagnostic values of transcranial Doppler(TCD) and magnetic resonance angiography(MRA)in the detection of cerebral artery stenosis in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.Methods A group of 203 patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases confirmed by CT or/and MRI were diagnosed as cerebral artery stenosis by using TCD.All cases after TCD detection were examined by MRA.Among them,5 cases were assessed by using digital subtraction angiography(DSA).Results TCD showed the middle cerebral artery stenosis in 236 vessels, while MRA showed the stenosis in 225.The coincidence between the TCD findings and MRA readings appeared in 219 vessels.Conclusion Both TCD and MRA may provide us reliable noninvasive methods for the diagnosis of cerebral artery stenosis.The combination of the two will be able to provide a more accurate diagnosis.