3-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE POWER-FLOW DOPPLER IMAGING OF INTRACRANIAL VASCULAR STRUCTURES IN THE NEONATE

Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography reconstructing from power flow Doppler imaging (PF) is able to image the 3D structures of the vascula r systems. We tried to display the 3D images of intracranial vascular structures in 5 neonates with a portable data processor. Data acquisit ion was performed using PF through the anterior fontanel. We succeeded in reconstructing vivid 3D images of the anterior cerebral arteries ( ACA), basilar artery (BA), internal carotid arteries (ICA), middle cer ebral arteries (MCA), lenticulostriate arteries (LSA), internal cerebr al vein (ICV), the vein of Galen (GV) and straight sinus (SS) in all s ubjects. The MCA could be displayed in only a proximal portion. The im ages of the LSAs were fainter than the other vessels. These problems a re based on the character of PF; the flow signal, sampling from the sm all sized vessels and the perpendicular vessels to ultrasonic beam, is weak. The images of these vessels are fainter than other vessels. The se limitations of PF performance directly influence the quality of the 3D images. The benefits and limitations of 3D ultrasonography system are discussed.