Duplex ultrasonography

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Duplex ultrasonography (more commonly but less correctly known as duplex ultrasound) is a form of medical ultrasonography that incorporates two elements:
1) B-mode, pulsed-doppler display to visualize the blood flow within a vessel;
2) Color-doppler display to visualize the structure and hemodynamics within a vessel. Both displays are presented on the same screen ("duplex") to facilitate interpretation.

Vascular ultrasonography is the main branch of radiology that uses duplex. Vascular ultrasonography, a subspeciality within ultrasonography, helps determine multiple factors within the circulatory system. It can evaluate central (abdominal) and peripheral arteries and veins; it helps determine the amount of vascular stenosis (narrowing) or occlusion (complete blockage) within an artery; it assists in ruling out aneurysmal disease; and it is the main aid to rule out thrombotic events. Duplex is an inexpensive, non-invasive way to determine pathology. Duplex evaluation is usually done prior to any invasive testing or surgical procedure.^[1]

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