Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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Noninvasive ultrasound is the preferred methodology for the initial evaluation of carotid atherosclerosis. Since the early use of continuous-wave Doppler to assess carotid artery flow velocity blindly, neurosonology has progressed through crude B-mode imaging, spectral analysis of the Doppler signal, and gray-scale duplex Doppler/B-mode imaging, to color-flow Doppler duplex imaging. The latter allows color coding of Doppler data based on the velocity of blood flow. ⋯ Color velocity imaging uses the data contained in the gray-scale B-mode image scan lines to determine velocity of blood flow, and it offers potential advantages over conventional color-flow duplex Doppler for the assessment of carotid atherosclerosis and hemodynamics. Initial comparison of spectral Doppler and color velocity imaging data suggests that the latter is an accurate method to assess blood flow velocity. Understanding of the validity, utility, and prognostic advantages offered by color velocity imaging awaits careful prospective clinical trials.