Transcranial Colour Doppler Sonography in the Management of a Patient with Spontaneous Intracranial Haematoma

Abstract

We present a case which demonstrates the merits of transcranial colour Doppler sonography (TCCD) in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with spontaneous intracerebral haematoma. With this method it was possible to follow up disturbances of cerebral circulation, which allowed for the identification of critical states early enough to make decisions as to neurosurgical intervention. It should be emphasized that TCCD enabled us to discriminate between conditions in which the cerebral circulation was efficiently maintained and those in which it was insufficient, whilst increases in intracranial pressure and CT findings were similar in both situations. It appears that TCCD could be helpful in the detection of both hyperaemia and cerebral vasospasm.