Question 58 of 433
What about a carotid ultrasound?
The short answer
SOMETIMES. Seeing plaque in the neck arteries can motivate treatment. Screening everyone for narrowing is not recommended.
An ultrasound that shows plaque in the carotid arteries tells you that artery disease has begun, which can tip a decision toward treatment in someone on the fence. It involves no radiation. But the national prevention task force recommends against screening healthy adults for carotid narrowing, because it leads to unnecessary procedures. An older measurement of artery wall thickness, called CIMT, adds little. I use carotid imaging when a calcium score is not available or a younger patient needs to see the evidence.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
GUIDELINE / LIMITED — Asymptomatic carotid-stenosis screening is discouraged; selective plaque assessment is a different clinical judgment.Evidence grade (draft mapping)GGuideline-based / consensusPart 5, Q58 · Part sources
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.