Value of high frequency color Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosis of subclavian steal syndrome

Objective The objective is to evaluate the diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasonography in detecting subclavian steal syndrome,and to searth for the better methods of detecting it. Methods Thirteen cases diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasonography were detected by using common high frequency probe and small volume high frequency cranial probe. The inspection aspects included blood flow direction and appearance of Doppler spectrum of vertebral artery and the peak flow velocity of the subclavical artery. They were classified into 3 groups: the insidious group (a notch in systolic phase), the partial group (partial retrograde flow in systolic phase); the completed group (completely retrograde flow in systolic phase). We use the small probe to detect the initial segment of subclavical artery and measure the peak flow velocity of it. Results The insidious group included 4 cases (30.8 percent), 2 cases coincidenced and 2 cases not coincidenced with other diagnosing methods. The partial group included 5 cases (38.5 percent) and the completed group have 4 (31.8 percent). The accurately diagnosed cases by ultrasound were 11 (84.6 percent). The misdiagnosed cases were 2 (15.4 percent, all in the insidious group). All the cases have increased velocity except for the two obstructived cases. Conclusion The subclavian steal syndrome cases can be found earlier if we pay more attention to the appearance of the Doppler spectrum of vertebral artery. Using small volume cranial probe with high frequency to detect the initial segment of subclavical artery,we can measure the peak velocity at the most stenostic site and avoid the misdiagnosis. The value of high frequency color Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosis of subclavian steal syndrome is exact.