Overview
Carotid (kuh-ROT-id) ultrasound is a safe, noninvasive, painless procedure that uses sound waves to examine the blood flow through the carotid arteries. It also evaluates the thickness of the carotid artery wall and checks for clots.
One carotid artery is located on each side of the neck. These arteries deliver blood from the heart to the brain.
A carotid ultrasound tests for blocked or narrowed carotid arteries, which can increase the risk of stroke. The results of the test can help your health care provider determine a treatment to lower your stroke risk.
Why it’s done
A carotid ultrasound is done to look for for narrowed carotid arteries, which increase the risk of stroke.
Carotid arteries are usually narrowed by a buildup of plaque — made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances that circulate in the bloodstream. Early diagnosis and treatment of a narrowed carotid artery can decrease stroke risk.
Your health care provider orders a carotid ultrasound if you have a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a mini-stroke, or other types of strokes. Your provider also may recommend a carotid ultrasound if you have a medical condition that increases the risk of a stroke, including:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Family history of stroke or heart disease
- Recent transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke
- Unusual sound in the carotid arteries (bruit) detected using a stethoscope
- Coronary artery disease
- Hardening of the arteries
Other uses of carotid ultrasound
Your doctor may order a carotid ultrasound to:
- Evaluate blood flow through the artery after surgery to remove plaques. The procedure to remove plaques is called carotid endarterectomy.
- Evaluate the placement and effectiveness of a stent, a mesh tube used to improve blood flow through an artery.
- Locate a collection of clotted blood, also called a hematoma, that may prevent blood flow.
- Detect other carotid artery problems that may disrupt blood flow.
- Predict coronary artery disease by measuring the thickness of the carotid artery and evaluating the characteristics of a plaque.
- Monitor carotid artery blood flow during aortic heart valve surgery to assess the risk of a stroke.
- Construct a 3D model of the carotid artery to improve the accuracy of a diagnosis.
