A cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as a stroke, occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted, either by a blood clot blocking an artery or by a blood vessel bursting. Ultrasound plays a crucial role in stroke prevention through carotid duplex scanning, which identifies patients with significant carotid artery stenosis who may benefit from surgical or medical intervention to reduce their stroke risk. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is used in acute stroke settings to monitor cerebral blood flow, detect large vessel occlusions, and assess the effectiveness of treatment. In sickle cell disease, regular transcranial Doppler screening has dramatically reduced the incidence of childhood stroke.
Sonography Term