Transcranial color Doppler sonography in the emergency diagnosis of middlecerebral artery occlusion in a patient after head injury

The purpose of this report is to highlight the utility of transcranial colo r Doppler sonography (TCCDS) in the emergency diagnosis of an ischemic stro ke in a 64-year-old patient after head injury. An emergency CT identified a subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, a brain contusion and edema. T he patient's status deteriorated after admission, and a second CT revealed an intracerebral hematoma and marked mass effect. Transcranial color sonogr aphy revealed no flow in the ipsilateral middle and anterior cerebral arter ies, which was consistent with ischemic stroke. This case demonstrates that transcranial color Doppler sonography performed early after head injury ma y be useful in detecting associated occlusion of cerebral vessels. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.