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(Stroke. 2004;35:1068.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Vertebral Artery Occlusion in Duplex Color-Coded Ultrasonography

Kozue Saito, MD; Kazumi Kimura, MD; Kazuyuki Nagatsuka, MD; Keiko Nagano, MD; Kazuo Minematsu, MD; Satoshi Ueno, MD Hiroaki Naritomi, MD

From Cerebrovascular Division (K.S., K.K., K.Nagatsuka, K.Nagano, K.M., H.N.), Department of Medicine, National Cardiovascular Center, Japan; Department of Neurology (S.U.), Nara Medical University, Japan.

Correspondence to Dr Kozue Saito, Fujishirodai, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan. E-mail ksaito{at}hsp.ncvc.go.jp

Background and Purpose— To establish the diagnostic criteria for the site of occlusion in the vertebral arteries (VAs) using duplex color-coded ultrasonography.

Methods— In 128 consecutive patients who underwent conventional cerebral angiography, we prospectively measured the diameter, mean flow velocity (MV), peak systolic flow velocity, and end-diastolic flow velocity of both VAs. The diameter-ratio (diameter of contralateral VA divided by that of target VA) and MV-ratio (MV of contralateral VA divided by that of target VA) were determined. Based on the angiographic findings, we classified the VAs into 4 types (5 groups) as follows: (1) the origin of VA occlusion (Origin group: n=9); (2) VA occlusion before branching into the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) (Before group: n=10); (3A) symptomatic VA occlusion after branching into the PICA (After group: n=12); (3B) asymptomatic or hypoplastic occlusive VA after branching into the PICA (PICA end group: n=15); and (4) no significant occlusive lesions in the VA (Control group: n=194).

Results— No flow signals in the VAs apparently indicated the Origin group. Preserved peak systolic flow velocity but end-diastolic flow velocity of zero cm/s indicated the Before group. MV <18 cm/s and MV-ratio 1.4 indicated the PICA end group or After group. Furthermore, these groups could be distinguished as follows: a diameter-ratio <1.4 indicated the After group. A diameter-ratio 1.4 indicated the PICA end group. Either MV 18 cm/s or MV <18 cm/s in combination with MV-ratio <1.4 indicated the Control group.

Conclusion— Duplex color-coded ultrasonography can accurately diagnose the site of VA occlusion.

Key Words: vertebral artery • occlusion • ultrasonography • ultrasonography, Doppler, duplex diagnosis • vertebrobasilar circulation