COLOR-CODED DOPPLER IMAGING OF SUBCLAVIAN STEAL SYNDROME

We examined the usefulness of color-coded Doppler echography for evalu ating hemodynamics in patients with subclavian steal syndrome, Eightee n patients with subclavian steal syndrome, aged 54 to 77 years, were i nvestigated. The diagnosis was confirmed by conventional angiography a nd pulsed-wave Doppler sonography. Using color-coded Doppler echograph y, the common, internal and external carotid and vertebral arteries an d the subclavian artery on the affected side were visualized. In all p atients, color-coded images of the antegrade common carotid arterial f low and the retrograde vertebral arterial flow on the affected side we re obtained. Rapid flow through stenotic lesions and reflux from verte bral to subclavian arteries at the vertebral arterial ostia were obser ved. Color-coded Doppler echography is superior to duplex echography w ithout the color-coded mode, because the flow through the affected ver tebral and subclavian arteries can be easily traced in detail and the images are persuasive. This method is beneficial for diagnosing subcla vian steal syndrome.