Ultrasound based measurement of 'carotid stenosis >70%': an audit of UK practice.
OBJECTIVE
To determine velocity thresholds for diagnosing 'carotid stenosis >70%' and whether Vascular Studies Units in the United Kingdom used ECST or NASCET measurement methods.


METHODS
Questionnaire to 102 members of the Society of Vascular Technology of Great Britain and Ireland.


RESULTS
One quarter (26%) of respondents reported that their unit used the NASCET measurement method, 31% used the ECST method, while 43% did not know. When all velocity criteria were pooled and compared, an almost equal proportion of ECST, NASCET and 'do not know' respondents used a peak systolic velocity threshold of >230 cm/s as being diagnostic of a 'stenosis >70%'. Interestingly, this velocity is now the threshold proposed by a North American consensus group for diagnosing a NASCET stenosis of >70%.


CONCLUSIONS
This audit suggests that there is considerable confusion about what constitutes an ultrasound based diagnosis of 'stenosis >70% in the United Kingdom.
Walker
J
J
The Vascular Studies Unit, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK.
Naylor
A R
AR
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D006113:United Kingdom