A truncated ultrasound screening procedure for atheroma of the cervical arteries in asymptomatic diabetic patients: evidence from a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate that ultrasound screening of diabetic patients presenting with no cerebrovascular symptoms for evaluation of atheroma of the cervical arteries can be limited to the carotid arteries.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the results of cervical artery ultrasound imaging of diabetic patients with no cerebrovascular symptoms. This diabetic population was divided into two subpopulations according to whether or not the vertebral and subclavian artery findings were normal or abnormal.


RESULTS
Of the 760 patients who fulfilled the criteria for study inclusion, the ultrasound imaging findings of the vertebral and subclavian arteries were normal in 712 cases. Review of the files of the 48 remaining patients showed that findings for either the vertebral or subclavian arteries did not lead to any changes in patient management because of associated risk factors, carotid atheroma or peripheral arterial disease.


CONCLUSIONS
A vascular risk evaluation in diabetic patients could include ultrasound imaging assessment for cervical artery atheroma and our data suggest that such an evaluation could be focused solely on the carotid arteries.
Ducluzeau
P-H
PH
Service d'endocrinologie, diabète et métabolisme, centre hospitalier universitaire d'Angers, 49933 Angers cedex 01, France.
Berlie
P
P
Leftheriotis
G
G
de Bray
J-M
JM
Fortrat
J-O
JO
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology