[Duplex ultrasound of the vertebral arteries. 1. Practical implementation, possibilities and limitations of the method].

Relatively few studies appeared concerning the examination of vertebral arteries because of their difficult visualization based on their anatomical position and on technical problems. The purpose of this report is to describe a technique for the imaging of vertebral arteries at their origins and along their extracranial course. The results of the examination of 54 patients are shown. By measuring the average diameter of the vessel, hypo- or hyperplasia of the vertebral artery can be defined. The problems of visualization of the vertebral origin as well as technical difficulties are discussed.