Although CTA does not have the same prospective evidence as MR imaging and ultrasound for predicting future cerebrovascular disease, CTA does provide valuable information regarding plaque characteristics that should not be ignored.ĬTA of the head and neck is a commonly acquired examination to evaluate vessel patency in the setting of cerebrovascular ischemia, especially in the work-up of acute ischemic infarction. 3 ⇓- 5 CTA is often overlooked as a method for providing detailed evaluation of plaque characteristics, and it has certain benefits in terms of accessibility and ease of use in clinical workflow not present with multisequence MR imaging characterization of carotid plaque. 1, 2 In addition to MR imaging, contrast-enhanced sonography is also a powerful tool for evaluating carotid plaque vulnerability. Much of the literature of vessel wall imaging has centered on MR imaging because of its impressive contrast resolution and high sensitivity for identifying high-risk plaque features. Despite decades of using a degree of luminal stenosis as the primary determinant of treatment for patients with carotid artery stenosis, there has been a recent trend toward adopting advanced imaging techniques to provide a more complete plaque evaluation for more accurate risk assessment. Recent advances in vessel wall imaging have spurred a paradigm shift in the evaluation of carotid plaque. Your doctor should have the results within a few days.Īlways consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.ABBREVIATIONS: IPH intraplaque hemorrhage LRNC lipid-rich necrotic core The radiologist then makes measurements from the video picture and submits a report to your doctor. The technician records the test on videotape for review by a radiologist. How long is it before the result of the test is known? Must I do anything special after the test is over? The other side of your neck is checked in the same way. As the equipment measures the blood flow through the artery, you hear a noise that sounds like your heartbeat. As the technician moves the sensor back and forth on your neck, different views of the carotid artery appear on the screen. What happens when the test is performed?Īfter squirting some clear jelly onto one side of your neck to help the ultrasound sensor slide around easily, a technician places the sensor against your skin. This test is often used to evaluate people who have had a stroke or who might be at high risk for one because of reduced blood flow in the carotid arteries. With this imaging technique, your doctor can see if there is any narrowing of your carotid arteries because of cholesterol deposits or some other problem. Using the Doppler effect-the change in the frequency of sound or light waves as they bounce off a moving object-this kind of ultrasound produces an image of blood in motion.Ī Carotid ultrasound shows the amount of blood flow in the carotid arteries, the major blood vessels to the brain located on either side of your neck. A computer transforms these echoes into an image that is displayed on a monitor.ĭoppler ultrasound is a variation of this technique that not only shows internal structures but also examines the flow of blood through blood vessels. The transducer sends sound waves into your body and picks up the echoes of the sound waves as they bounce off internal organs and tissue. After coating a small area of your skin with a lubricant to reduce friction, a radiologist or ultrasound technician places an ultrasound transducer, which looks like a microphone, on your skin and may rub it back and forth to get the right view. This imaging technique works in a manner similar to radar and sonar, developed in World War II to detect airplanes, missiles, and submarines that were otherwise invisible. Ultrasound uses sound waves instead of radiation to generate snapshots or moving pictures of structures inside the body.
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