Ask a Texas Heart Institute Doctor
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Question:
How do you interpret results from a carotid ultrasound test? submitted by Bea, from Sarasota, Florida, 1/28/09
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Christopher Frank, MD 
Carotid ultrasound can be directed either at measuring the thickness of the wall of the artery (called "carotid intima-media thickness" or CIMT) or at looking for significant blockages within the carotid artery, or both. Measurements of the thickness of the wall are designed to screen for patients who are at relatively high risk of developing atherosclerosis in the future, and are most useful in healthy, asymptomatic patients who are trying to decide whether it is worth it to them to take medication to lower cholesterol in order to prevent future atherosclerosis in any of the arteries of the body; the thicker the wall, the higher the risk. Measurement of velocities of flow in the carotid artery is designed to gauge the severity of blockages that have already developed—just like water flowing through a pipe, higher velocities imply tighter blockages. A patient who has developed essentially any blockage of the carotid artery should speak to his or her physician about medical treatment to prevent strokes and lower cholesterol. If the blockage is more than 50-60% or if the patient has developed symptoms related to the blockages (which might include strokes, transient or permanent changes in vision, transient or permanent weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or any other neurological symptom), the patient should speak with the doctor about the possible need for a procedure to prevent strokes.
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Updated February 2009
