Significance of carotid Doppler ultrasound examination

1. Big picture

Carotid Doppler ultrasound, more correctly carotid duplex ultrasound, is a non-invasive bedside investigation used to assess the extracranial carotid arteries, especially the common carotid artery, carotid bifurcation, internal carotid artery, and external carotid artery. Its main neurological significance is in ischemic cerebrovascular disease, because many transient ischemic attacks and ischemic strokes are caused by extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis, ulcerated plaque, floating thrombus, or carotid occlusion.

The exam wants you to know that carotid ultrasound is used to:

Detect carotid stenosis or occlusion Estimate the degree of stenosis Assess plaque morph