Doppler color imaging. Carotid and vertebral arteries.

Duplex sonography and DCI have now become standard modalities for imaging of the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries. They are equivalent in accuracy to arteriography in the evaluation of flow-limiting stenosis. In addition, the newest scanners all appear to have high-resolution imaging systems capable of characterizing plaque properly. DCI currently leads to more rapid scanning and greater ease in evaluating more difficult patients. The most important advance with DCI will come in the future, when there is better understanding of the significance of the Doppler color-flow patterns now being observed. At present, duplex sonography and DCI remain the only imaging modalities that can evaluate the complete spectrum of abnormalities of the extracranial carotid and vertebral vessels, from minimal stenosis to complete occlusion. As a result, they are valuable tools in the diagnosis of disease.