Basilar artery flow characteristics and color Doppler sonography findings in healthy infants

Abstract

Aim: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a widely used method for the evaluation of vertebrobasilar system. There is not neither a consensus nor significant number of publications about normal spectral Doppler waveform and resistance index (RI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and end diastolic velocity (EDV) values of basilar artery (BA). We aim to define normal PSV, EDV, RI values of BA via TCD in healthy infants. Material and Method: BA was evaluated from anterior fontanelle by creating sagittal and coronal images. Color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and spectral Doppler examinations were performed by placing the cursor in the middle portion of BA. PSV, EDV, and RI values were recorded. Patients were divided into 4 subgroups to analyze the change of normal values according to age groups: (1) 0-120 days, (2) 121-180 days, (3) 181-270 days, (4) >271 days. Results: 115 healthy infants were included into the study. A weak positive correlation was found between PSV, EDV values and age; meanwhile a weak but significant negative correlation was present between age and RI values. We cannot find any correlation between sex and CDUS parameters. Conclusion: BA PSV, EDV and RI values change by age. No correlation is present between CDUS characteristics and sex. BA pathologies are rare in pediatric population, nevertheless knowing normal CDUS characteristics can help radiologists for an appropriate assessment.