Noninvasive evaluation of carotid artery stenosis: indications, strategies, and accuracy.
Carotid artery occlusive disease is an important stroke risk factor and accounts for a significant proportion of stroke morbidity and mortality. In this article we survey the major clinical trials related to stroke risk in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients who have internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis; techniques for noninvasive screening of ICA stenosis including ultrasound, MR angiography, and CT angiography; and evolving algorithms for ICA evaluation. We comment on current interest in plaque morphology as a risk factor for stroke.
Romero
Javier M
JM
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Javier_Romero@hms.harvard.edu
Ackerman
Robert H
RH
Dault
Nayeli A
NA
Lev
Michael H
MH
D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology