Polyether Ether Ketone Cranioplasties Are Permeable to Diagnostic Ultrasound

Abstract

It is a common assumption that the human skull and solid skull implants are impermeable to diagnostic ultrasound. We demonstrated in 2 patients that frontoparietal polyetheretherketone cranioplasties allowed useful imaging of intracranial parenchymal and vascular structures with higher ultrasound frequencies than the 2 MHz used for the temporal bone window. This knowledge about additional imaging properties may be helpful in emergency situations and for vascular monitoring. The decision for a polyether ether ketone cranioplasty may contribute to patient safety.

Keywords: Cranial implant; Craniectomy; PEEK; Reconstruction of the cranial vault; Transcranial ultrasound; Ultrasonography.