Duplex Study

What is Duplex Study?

A carotid duplex scan is a simple and painless test that combines two types of ultrasound to check for blockages in your carotid arteries. Ultrasound is a type of scan that uses sound waves to create images inside your body. Your carotid arteries are located on both sides of your neck. Blocked carotid arteries are a major risk factor for stroke.

Duplex ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to observe blood flow velocity and the structure of leg veins. The term "duplex" means that two ultrasound methods are used: Doppler and B-mode. The B-mode transducer (similar to a microphone) produces an image of the examined vessel. The Doppler probe within the transducer assesses the speed and direction of blood flow in the vessel. For example, a carotid duplex scan may be performed to evaluate occlusion (blockage) or stenosis (narrowing) of the carotid artery and/or its branches in the neck. This type of Doppler exam provides a two-dimensional (2D) image of the artery, allowing determination of the artery’s structure and the presence of any material inside it, as well as the degree of blood flow.