Who’s That Vessel?
Large branches of the subclavian artery that merge to form the basilar artery
What is the vertebral artery.
Transient partial or complete loss of vision in one eye.
What is amaurosis fugax.
This normal enlargement at the proximal ICA causes flow separation and lower velocities.
What is the carotid bulb.
This Doppler measurement is used first when grading carotid stenosis.
What is peak systolic velocity (PSV)?
This normal ICA feature produces flow separation and mild spectral broadening.
What is the carotid bulb?
Arises from the aortic arch on the left side and from the innominate artery on the right side.
What is common carotid artery (CCA)
Develops because of vessel obstruction; smaller side branches of the vessel provide alternative flow pathways.
What is collateral pathway
This vessel normally demonstrates high-resistance flow and responds to a temporal tap.
What is the ECA
Incorrect angle correction greater than this value can falsely elevate velocities.
What is 60 degrees?
Color aliasing is present, but spectral velocities are normal and no plaque is seen.
What is improper color scale or PRF setting?
Smaller of the two terminal branches of the common carotid artery
What is the external carotid artery (ECA)
Episode of cerebrovascular insufficiency, usually associated with partial occlusion of a cerebral artery.
What is transient ischemic attack.
Color aliasing is seen in a sharply curved ICA segment with no plaque and excessive Doppler angle.
What is vessel tortuosity
Velocities are elevated throughout the ICA with no focal plaque and no turbulence.
What is a hyperdynamic or high–cardiac output state?
A vessel shows low-resistance flow but responds to no temporal tap.
What is the internal carotid artery (not the ECA)?
Larger of the two terminal branches that arise from the common carotid artery.
What is the internal carotid artery (ICA)
Double vision
What is diplopia
Elevated PSV is measured in the distal ICA, but grayscale imaging is normal and no post-stenotic turbulence is present.
What is a normal anatomic tapering of the ICA
Aliasing is seen on color Doppler, but spectral velocities remain within normal limits.
What is inappropriate color scale (PRF) setting, not stenosis?
Bilateral ICA velocities are increased with no plaque and normal side-to-side ratios.
What is a hyperdynamic or high-cardiac-output state?
The termination of the CCA is the carotid _________, which is the origin of the ICA and the ECA.
What is the bifurcation.
Impaired ability to coordinate movement, especially disturbances in gait.
What is ataxia
A hypoechoic structure adjacent to the carotid artery shows no internal color flow and compresses with probe pressure.
What is a lymph node
PSV and EDV increase distal to a stenosis, but grayscale shows no plaque at that site.
What is velocity acceleration from proximal stenosis or vessel tortuosity?
PSV appears elevated in one ICA, but the Doppler angle exceeds accepted limits and is not parallel to flow.
What is false velocity elevation due to improper angle correction?