Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound imaging technique that evaluates blood flow through a blood vessel, including the body’s major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms and legs. Doppler ultrasound is also used to identify blood flow blockages in the neck arteries that could lead to a stroke. A Doppler ultrasound can measure the direction and speed of blood flow and allows for real-time viewing of blood flow that can’t be obtained with other methods. It can help your doctor identify narrowing or blockages (such as clots or plaque), defects or tumors and determine the most effective treatment. Doppler ultrasound is also useful in monitoring sites prior to bypass surgery, angioplasty or stenting.
Advanced Radiology offers two types of Doppler Ultrasound—Color Doppler and Power Doppler.
Color Doppler converts the blood flow measurements into an array of colors to help show the speed and direction of blood flow through the vessel.
Power Doppler is even more sensitive than color Doppler in detecting blood flow, although it does not provide information about the direction of blood flow. Power Doppler provides even greater detail about blood flow, especially in blood vessels located inside organs.
High image quality and speed
Advanced Radiology uses the Aixplorer® MultiWave™ ultrasound system with the latest technology for enhanced image quality and ultra-sensitive blood flow measurement. This system also features UltraFast™ Doppler which makes exams quicker and more accurate. The system uses ultra-high imaging rates that are up to ten times faster than conventional Color Doppler
Color and Power Doppler Ultrasound exams are available at the following Advanced Radiology locations
Call to Schedule: 203-337-XRAY (9729)
Fairfield -1055 Post Road
Shelton -4 Corporate Drive, Suite 182
Stamford -1259 E Main Street
Stratford -2876 Main Street
Trumbull – Advanced Women’s Imaging Center -15 Corporate Drive
Orange – 297 Boston Post Road
Preparation
Ultrasound exams are pain-free and usually take 30 minutes. Some tests can take up to 90 minutes. The technologist places gel on the skin of the area to be examined, and then moves the ultrasound transducer, or wand, over the skin.
No preparation is required.
Color Doppler. Color Doppler uses standard ultrasound methods to produce a picture of a blood vessel. Also, a computer converts the Doppler sounds into colors that are overlaid on the image of the blood vessel and that represent the speed and direction of blood flow through the vessel.
Power Doppler is a special type of color Doppler. Power Doppler can get some images that are hard or impossible to get using standard color Doppler. Power Doppler is most commonly used to evaluate blood flow through vessels within solid organs.