Diagnostic value of TCD and color Doppler ultrasound in subclavian artery steal syndrome

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of subclavian artery steal syndrome(SSS) using transcranial Doppler(TCD) combined with color Doppler ultrasound.Methods: Applied color Doppler ultrasound to detect the degree of stenosis and color flow from 32 cases of patients with SSS in extracranial vertebral artery,carotid artery,subclavian artery and innominate artery of the tunica intima.Applied TCD to detect the blood flow direction and the spectrum changes in intracranial vertebral artery and basilar artery.Results: In 32 cases of subclavian artery,11 cases were moderate stenosis,12 cases were severe stenosis,9 cases were occlusion.TCD examination stage Ⅰ steal 11 cases(34%);Ⅱ period steal 11 cases(34%);Ⅲ period steal 10 cases(32%).Conclusion: Application of color Doppler ultrasound and TCD is good for the diagnosis of etiology and extent of the subclavian steal syndrome by detecting the tunica intima of subclavian artery and innominate artery,the degree of stenosis and the spectrum shape measurement of vertebral-basilar artery.