Scan - carotid duplex; Carotid ultrasound; Carotid artery ultrasound; Ultrasound - carotid; Vascular ultrasound - carotid; Ultrasound - vascular - carotid

The results will tell your doctor how open or narrowed your carotid arteries are. For example, the arteries may be 10% narrowed, 50% narrowed, or 75% narrowed.

A normal result means there is no problem with the blood flow in the carotid arteries. The artery is free of any blockage, narrowing, or other problem.

Note: Value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

An abnormal result means the artery may be narrowed, or something is changing the blood flow in the carotid arteries. This is a sign of atherosclerosis or blood vessel conditions.

In general, the more narrowed the artery is, the higher your risk for stroke.

Depending on the results, your doctor may want you to:

• Consider surgery
• Have additional tests (such as cerebral angiography, CT angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography)
• Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent atherosclerosis
• Repeat the test again in the future

See the article on atherosclerosis for further treatment information.

Images

Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the right artery

Carotid duplex

Carotid stenosis, X-ray of the left artery

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Carotid duplex Overview

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Carotid duplex Risks

Review Date: 07/10/2010
Reviewed By: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)