RENAL VASCULAR DOPPLER IMAGING - CLINICAL BENEFITS OF POWER MODE

Power Doppler ultrasound (US) is a new technology that is superior to conventional color Doppler imaging in the detection of blood flow. Bec ause of its greater sensitivity to flow and reduced angle: dependence, power Doppler US demonstrates optimal color filling of renal pedicula r vessels and allows improved evaluation of the renal parenchymal micr ovasculature, Power Doppler US was used as an adjunct to conventional color Doppler imaging in technically challenging cases and to improve evaluation of renal vascular disorders in a series of 916 patients, Th e primary clinical advantages of using power Doppler US compared with conventional color Doppler imaging include better morphologic apprecia tion of atherosclerotic changes in the renal artery wall, allowing imp roved diagnostic performance especially in hemodynamically nonsignific ant plaques; ability to differentiate between subocclusive renal arter y stenosis and occlusion; increased confidence in the diagnosis of ren al vein thrombosis and in the assessment of caval tumor thrombus; and better appreciation of renal cortical perfusion defects, In addition, because of its greater sensitivity to perivascular artifact, power Dop pler US has the potential to increase the detection rate for intrarena l arteriovenous fistulas.