Screening for High-grade Carotid Stenosis Using a Portable Ultrasonography Instrument

ABSTRACT Background and Purpose. We investigated the diagnostic performance of a brief Power Doppler Imaging (PDI) screening examination for carotid artery stenoses using a newly developed portable instrument. Methods. A highly experienced sonographer screened in total 152 carotid arteries by either continuous wave (cw) Doppler (n= 50) or a lightweight (2.4 kg) portable duplex device (n= 102) in a prospective study of 76 high‐risk patients. The screening protocols included either spectrum analysis and frequency shift measurement in both internal carotid arteries with cw‐Doppler or determination of area and diameter ratios in transverse and longitudinal views of both carotid arteries in B‐mode and with PDI, but without velocity measurement. Both protocols were evaluated against a complete routine duplex ultrasonography examination. Results. According to the complete examination, stenoses were 75% stenosis measured by carotid Doppler ultrasound. However, these preliminary data need further verification.