Diagnostic value of transcranial doppler combined with color doppler flow imaging in patients with subclavian steal syndrome

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of transcranial doppler(TCD)and color doppler flow imaging(CDFI)in patients with subclavian steal syndrome(SSS).Methods 25 SSS patients with clinical manifestation like vertebro-basilar artery insufficiency(VBI)were detected and diagnosed by TCD and DCFI.The results of TCD and DCFI were analyzed.Results TCD showed that the 25 SSS patients had forward direction of blood flow(inversion of blood flow signal)in affected side of vertebral arteries,with complete blood steal 8 cases(32%)and partial blood steal 17 cases(68%).CDFI examination found atherosclerotic plaques in the initial segment of subclavian arteries in 23 cases(92%)and thickening of intima in 2 cases(8%);and there were obvious stenosis of caliber or complete occlusion of subclavian arteries,narrowed blood stream or absent signal of blood stream,bidirectional blood stream or complete extro-cranial directional blood stream and other hemodynamic changes of affected vertebral arteries in all the 25 patients.Conclusion It can be more exactly to diagnose SSS when TCD combined with CDFI.