Analysis of color doppler ultrasound image for 67 cases of vertebral artery stenosis

Objective To investigate the color doppler ultrasound image of vertebral artery stenosis and provide basis for clinical diagnosis. Methods From February 2011 to March 2012, 67 cases of patients with vertebral artery stenosis were confirmed by color doppler ultrasound examination, their two-dimensional ultrasound image, color doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and spectral doppler (SD) images were analyzed. Results One hundred and thirty four vessels of 67 patients in the group were ideally displayed, wherein 27 cases of unilateral vertebral artery stenosis, 40 cases of bilateral vertebral artery stenosis, with total 107 vessels involved; the degree of stenosis: 15 vessels with first grade, 36 vessels with second grade, 41 vessels with third grade, and 15 vessels with forth grade. In this group, the vertebral artery vascular caliber was measured 0.5-2.7 mm, mean (1.87 ±0.38) mm, except vessels of complete occlusion. Conclusion Color doppler ultrasound can measure blood vessel inside diameter, display the course, wall echo, direction of blood flow and distribution of extracranial vertebral artery, intuitively and accurately determine narrow circumstances and extent of blood vessels, and can be widely used as preferred imaging method for vertebral artery stenosis.