[Echotomography and spectral analysis of the Doppler signal in the assessment of carotid lesions].

Real-time echography and C.W. Doppler examination with spectrum analysis are the two methods most widely used for the study of the circulation. Echography allows the detection and the localization of the atheromatous defects whereas Doppler examination provides information on the blood flow. With the help of the frequency analysis of the Doppler signal it is possible to study much more accurately the local haemodynamic conditions. Spectrum analysis is one of the possible display mode for the Doppler signal. It provides in comparison with the zero crossing mode, much more haemodynamic parameters on the blood flow, such as velocity spectrum, density of red cells on each velocity... In this study, we tried to demonstrate that a relationship exists between the amplitude of the spectrum disturbances, recorded just after a stenosis and the degree of this stenosis. For that we propose a classification of the spectrum disturbances in five grades, each of them being related to an interval of possible values for the stenosis degree (grade I----stenosis less than 40% in area, grade II----40-60% stenosis, grade III----60-75% stenosis (extended defects) grade IV----70-90% (extended defects) and 60-90% short stenosis. Grade V: stenosis greater than 90%. The results provided by this classification were compared to those obtained by measurements of the stenosis degree on the piece of endarterectomy (72 cases). The results were in agreement in 94% of the cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)