The role of transcranial Doppler in symptomatic striatocapsular small deep infarction

Abstract

Background and purpose: The transcranial Doppler (TCD) findings in symptomatic small deep infarction are not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of TCD in striatocapsular small deep infarctions (SSDIs).

Methods: The cerebral angiography and TCD findings were analyzed on 100 patients with symptomatic cerebral infarcts on the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of TCD in detecting the MCA lesions were compared between lacunar group (the patients with lacunar syndrome and SSDIs on magnetic resonance image) and nonlacunar group.

Results: Thirty-eight patients were classified as the lacunar group, whereas 62 patients as the nonlacunar group. On angiography, occlusive lesion of MCA was found in 18 of the lacunar group and 24 patients of the nonlacunar group. The degree of MCA stenosis was higher in the nonlacunar group (80.8% +/- 21.2%) than the lacunar group (60.4% +/- 21.6%). The accuracy of TCD for the detection of MCA stenosis was not different between the groups. However, the sensitivity of TCD in the lacunar group was lower (72%) than in the nonlacunar group (88%), and it might have been due to the difference in the degree of MCA stenosis among the groups.

Conclusion: Occlusive lesions of the MCA should be considered as a potential cause of SSDIs. In this respect, TCD may be used for screening candidates for conventional angiography in those patients. High rate of mild-degree stenosis of MCA in patients with SSDIs, however, caused a risk for missing such stenosis on TCD.