[Doppler ultrasonography of orbital vessels in temporal arteritis (author's transl)].

Doppler Ultrasonography of the orbital vessels is a simple non invasive technique for the qualitative determination of velocity and direction of blood flow within the supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries. In temporal arteritis characteristic findings can be obtained with this method. The amplitudes of ultrasonograms are markedly reduced and the waveforms considerably distorted. Sometimes there is a complete absence of velocity signals from the orbital vessels. When the superficial temporal artery is compressed abnormal reactions are almost always elicited, whereas the compression of the homolateral carotid artery yields normal results. In temporal arteritis, the diagnostic value of Doppler ultrasonography of orbital vessels seems about as great as that of Hager ophtalmodynamography.