[Potentialities and limitations of B-mode sonography of the carotid artery]

Abstract

By the development of multi-purpose ultrasonic devices with exchangeable probes, high resolution B-mode-sonography of the carotid arteries gains increasing applicability. Combined with bidirectional Doppler sonography, stenoses and occlusions of the extracranial carotid arteries can be readily identified. With regard to some new criteria, accuracy in detecting ulcerated lesions has nearly the same amount for both B-mode-sonography and angiography. Sonography is superior to angiography in postoperative controls, in the differential diagnosis of pulsatile tumours of the neck as well as in arteritides, and in follow-up studies of asymptomatic plaques during antithrombotic treatment and reduction of risk factors. The results discussed base on the data of more than 15 000 carotid sonograms, investigated during the last 3 years.