Transcranial ultrasonography of cerebral veins and sinuses

Abstract

Transcranial ultrasonography has become a valuable diagnostic tool for the bed-side evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics. While the assessment of arterial blood flow is well established, analysis of venous hemodynamics by transcranial ultrasonography is a new application of the method. The present review summarises the current state of transcranial venous ultrasound in adults by means of transcranial Doppler (TCD) and transcranial colour-coded duplex sonography (TCCS). It gives a critical overview regarding current and possible future clinical applications of the techniques.