Objective To investigate the diagnostic values of color ultrasound to the stenosis of extracranial carotid arteries.Methods Color ultrasound examination and digital subtraction angiography(DSA)were performed in 145 patients with ischemic cerebravascular disease.The sensitivity and specificity of color ultrasound for the stenosis of extracranial carotid arteries were analyzed according to the golden standard of DSA results.Results The sensitivity and specificity of color ultrasound for stenosis of carotid bifurcation,subclavicular artery and vertebral artery were 96.8%,80.6%,60.0% and 98.7%,33.3%,89.0%.The accuracy of color ultrasound for stenosis of carotid bifurcation,subclavicular artery and vertebral artery were 93.0%,92.8% and 82.1%.Conclusion Color ultrasound examination are effective for the diagnosis of carotid bifurcation sterosis,and less effective for the diagnosis of the subclavicular and vertebral artery stenosis because of the poor sensitivity.