ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULAS IN THE NECK - DIAGNOSIS WITH COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY

We report the use of color Doppler imaging in the diagnosis of four ar teriovenous fistulas in the neck region: two had a traumatic origin an d two were spontaneous. A perivascular color artifact was the most com mon initial finding on color images to indicate the underlying abnorma lity. In all four cases, a low-resistance flow with high systolic and diastolic velocities was observed in the feeding artery. Although angi ography remains essential before therapeutic embolization, color Doppl er sonography may be an important tool for screening and follow-up of cervical arteriovenous fistulas.