Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Pre and Post Middle Cerebral Artery Stent Placement

Abstract

This report describes a 42 year old male with a 5 year history of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), migraines, previous strokes, and symptoms referable to a left middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory event. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed severe stenoses in the proximal left MCA and proximal left anterior cerebral artery (ACA). Transcranial Doppler ultrasound/Transcranial Doppler imaging (TCD/TCI) and cerebral angiogram confirmed the stenoses with a mean flow velocity (MFV) at the proximal left MCA, with a velocity of 230 cm/s. A Wingspan Stent System stent was placed in the proximal left MCA. Cerebral angiogram and serial TCD examinations performed post stent placement showed a patent left MCA without stenosis and a MFV of 55 cm/s. The left ACA was occluded following proximal left MCA stent placement. This case highlights the usefulness of TCD in the assessment of the MCA and other basal cerebral arteries.