Dopplersonographic measurement of global cerebral circulation time using echo contrast-enhanced ultrasound in normal individuals and patients with arteriovenous malformations

Abstract 

Echo-contrast “bolus tracking” by ultrasound (US) is an exciting new tool to study cerebral haemodynamics. In the present study, a global cerebral circulation time (CCT) was measured by extracranial Doppler as the time difference of contrast bolus arrival between the internal carotid artery and internal jugular vein. A total of 64 healthy volunteers and 9 patients with an angiographically diagnosed arteriovenous malformation (AVM) were studied. CCT in volunteers and patients was calculated as the time interval between the points of 10% rise (CCT₁) and 90% rise (CCT₃) of the total intensity increase and between the turning points (CCT₂) of the resulting time-intensity curves. In the volunteer group, CCT₁ was 5.4 ± 1.8 s, CCT₂ was 7 ± 1.3 s and CCT₃ 7.5 ± 1.8 s. CCT results in the AVM group were 2.8 ± 2.5 s, 3.0 ± 1.3 s and 4.5 ± 2.1 s, respectively, and differed significantly from the controls. For the first time, we could confirm a significant shortening of CCT in patients with cerebral AVM by US. The presented test might become a new, additional tool for AVM evaluation and follow-up of treatment in these patients. (E-mail:Stephan.Schreiber@charite.de)

Keywords:  Echo contrast, Bolus tracking, Arteriovenous malformation, Doppler, Cerebral circulation time