Advances in Carotid Ultrasound

Carotid stenosis is a major cause of stroke, and the presence of carotid atherosclerosis identifies increased risk of stroke or cardiovascular events. Effective therapies are available to treat this condition, and reduce the risk of stroke or other clinical events. Thus, there is a clinical mandate to identify individuals with atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. Ultrasound offers a safe, accurate, readily available method to evaluate for this disorder, using instrumentation that is portable, and less costly than competing technologies. Carotid ultrasound has become a standard part of the clinical evaluation for carotid disease. Understanding of the physiological principles and current clinical applications is vital for optimal use of this technique. Advances in technology and the applications of the same, now offer improved diagnostic capability for carotid ultrasound. This chapter reviews concepts that are essential for the understanding and clinical use of carotid ultrasound testing, and explores the recent advances in the same.