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What is Color Doppler Ultrasound?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 78,437
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Color Doppler ultrasound is a medical imaging technique which is used to provide visualization of the bloodflow, using color processing to add color to the image so that a doctor or care provider can clearly see what is happening inside the body. This technique requires the use of an ultrasound machine which is capable of color Doppler imaging, and can be performed in a hospital or clinic as an outpatient procedure. Having this imaging study performed is not usually painful, and the patient does not require sedatives.

Doppler ultrasound takes advantage of the Doppler effect to create a moving image of the inside of the body. In this technique, an ultrasound transducer is used to beam sound into the area of interest, and it reads the returning sound. When the sound bounces off a moving target like a blood vessel, the pitch changes as a result of the Doppler effect. The transducer can detect very subtle pitch changes and record them visually, creating an image which shows where blood is flowing, and in which direction.

Viewed in grayscale, the image can be a bit hard to read. This is where color Doppler ultrasound comes in, with the ultrasound machine assigning color values which depend on whether blood is moving towards or away from the the transducer. In addition to showing the direction of flow, the colors also vary in intensity depending on the velocity of the flow, allowing people to see how quickly the blood is moving.

One obvious application of color Doppler ultrasound is in examination of a patient with a suspected aneurysm or occlusion. The ultrasound will reveal areas where the velocity of the bloodflow is changing, acting like a red flag to point out a problem. This technique can also be used to find blood clots, which will also be clearly visible within the color display.

In examination of tumors and venous malformations, doctors can use color Doppler ultrasound to map out the blood supply and learn how far the growth has spread. This can have an impact on which treatments the doctor recommends, and how the doctor wants to approach surgery and other measures.

While color Doppler ultrasound usually involves using a transducer on the outside of the body, it can be used for transrectal and transvaginal procedures, in which the probe is inserted to get a better view. In these cases, patients may be given muscle relaxers so that the procedure will be less uncomfortable.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a The Health Board researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By honeysuckle — On Apr 25, 2011

@seekinfo2- Do they do doppler imaging on all high risk pregnancies?

I know they did doppler imaging on my father when he had prostate cancer. It seems like if there is a problem that doppler imaging is the first choice.

By seekinfo2 — On Apr 22, 2011

I had a friend that was in the middle of a high risk pregnancy. I went with her to an ultrasound appointment. I thought the test would be just a regular ultrasound, but the doctor explained that they were going to use color doppler imaging instead. I did not know that there was a difference.

They did a vaginal ultrasound instead of just running it over her belly. The doctor said they had to get a good look at the placenta and the blood flow to the baby. He showed me the image on the screen and I could not believe the difference.

All the ultrasounds I have ever seen have been in black and white. Even pictures that people have of their unborn babies are in black and white.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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