Utility of noninvasive studies in the evaluation of patients with carotid artery disease.
Endarterectomy reduces the risk of stroke in selected patients with carotid artery stenosis, and the benefit is related to the degree of stenosis. Although the randomized trials demonstrating this benefit measured the degree of stenosis with conventional catheter angiography, many physicians are relying on noninvasive tests to select patients for surgery. Technologic advancement in this area is outpacing the availability of quality data supporting the clinical utility of the newer noninvasive tests.
Johnston
Dean C C
DC
Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Room 2369, Providence Wing, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 1Y6, Canada. dccj@interchange.ubc.ca
Goldstein
Larry B
LB
D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex