[Age dependence of Doppler parameters in the basal cerebral arteries evaluated by transcranial color-coded duplex sonography. Reference data from 290 volunteers].

AIM: In this study the Doppler parameters of the basal intracranial arteries and the insonation in axial and coronary plane by temporal approach were established in healthy volunteers of all age groups with transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCDS).
METHODS: 290 healthy probands (age 0 to 91 years) were investigated through the temporal and transnuchal ultrasound window. The angle corrected flow velocities and the resistance indices of the basal brain arteries were measured.
RESULTS: The flow velocities rapidly increase in children (from 3 years up to puberty) and gradually decrease with increased age. Vice versa, the resistance indices decrease in children and increase in older people. The flow velocities show significant differences by axial and coronary insonation in certain arteries of the circle of Willis.
CONCLUSION: The Doppler parameters of the basal intracranial arteries evaluated with TCDS depend from age. The flow velocities and resistance indices are similar in children and older people. The coronary transtemporal approach is considered a useful completion of the axial investigation.