Abstract：Objective: To evaluate vertebral arterial blood flow by color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI). Methods: 337 patients diagnosed as vertebrobasilar insufficiency(VBI) were detected by CDFI. We measured vertebral artery diameter(VD), peak systolic flow velocity(SPV), time average velocity(TAVM), quantity of flow(Q). Result: There were 32 cases whose age less than 40 years old in 337 VBI patients, 129 cases were 40~60y, 176 cases were more than 60y. Unilateral VD≤2.0mm was accounted in 4％(14/337), VD<3.0mm was accounted in 67％(228/337). Bilateral VD<3.0mm was accounted in 1％(6/337). Vertebral diameter rate(VDR) was 1.4±0.1. The smallest unilateral average vertebral artery diameter was (2.6±0.4)mm, TAVM=(16.2±3.1)cm/s. Bilateral Q=(176.5±26.8)ml/min. Conclusion: Vertebral blood flow velocity and quantity descend with increasing of age. Unilateral VD<3.0mm, TAVM<18cm/s and VDR<1.5 and bilateral Q<200ml/min may result in VBI especially with arteriosclerosis. Vertebral artery stenosis occurs when VD<3.0mm. It is the accurate and important part of CDFI in diagnosing VBI.
2007, Vol. 18 
