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Doppler ultrasonography of an extremity
Doppler ultrasonography of an extremity


Doppler ultrasound exam of an arm or leg

Normal Values:
  • The vessels show no evidence of narrowing or closure.
  • The arteries have normal systolic and diastolic components.
  • Blood pressure is normal.
  • The ankle-to-brachial arterial blood pressure index (comparison of the pressure at the ankle to that of the brachial artery in the arm) is 0.85 or greater.


What abnormal results mean:
  • In the veins:
    • Venous occlusion (closing of vein)
    • Blood clots
  • In the arteries:
    • Arterial occlusive disease
    • Spastic arterial disease (arterial contractions brought on by cold or emotion)
    • Embolic arterial occlusion (obstruction in the artery by a blood clot, a fat globule, or an air bubble)

Additional conditions under which Doppler ultrasound may be performed include the following:




Review Date: 7/21/2004
Reviewed By: Jeffrey J. Brown, MD, FACR, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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