Clinical utilization of microembolus detection by transcranial Doppler sonography in intracranial stenosis-occlusive disease

Objective To discuss the clinical ultiliazation and significance of microembolus detection by transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography in intracranial stenosis-occlusive disease.Data sources All related articles in this review were mainly searched from PubMed published in English from 1996 to 2012 using the terms of microembolic signal,transcranial Doppler,intracranial stenosis,stroke.Study selection Original articles and reviews were selected if they were related to the clinical utilization of microembolus detection in intracranial stenosis-occlusive disease.Results Intracranial stenosis is a significant cause of cerebral emboli,and microembolus detection by TCD sonography were widely used in exploring the mechanisms of ischemic stroke with intracranial stenosis (including the middle cerebral artery stenosis and the vertebral-basilar stenosis),evaluating the prognosis of acute stroke,evaluating the therapeutic effects,and predicting the recurrent events of stroke.Conclusion Microembolus detection by TCD sonography plays an important role in the cerebral ischemic stroke patients with intracranial stenosis.