Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is a diagnostic test that uses high-frequency sound waves to measure the blood flow in the brain. It is commonly used to evaluate conditions such as stroke, brain aneurysms, and stenosis (narrowing) of the blood vessels in the neck.
TCD is performed by placing a transducer (ultrasound probe) on the patient’s head and directing sound waves towards the blood vessels in the brain. The sound waves bounce off the moving red blood cells and produce echoes that are captured and analyzed to determine the blood flow velocity and direction.
TCD is a non-invasive and painless procedure that can be performed quickly and easily in an outpatient and inpatient clinical setting. The results of TCD can provide important information about the blood flow in the brain and can help guide further medical evaluation and treatment for the underlying condition.
In combination with other diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans, TCD can provide a more complete picture of the blood flow in the brain and assist in the diagnosis and management of various neurological conditions.
