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Role of Duplex Ultrasound in Carotid Screening

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Noninvasive Vascular Diagnosis

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Abstract

Screening programs designed to identify disease in the general public have proliferated in recent years, and increased stroke awareness has resulted in both free and for-profit screening programs for carotid disease being offered to the public. This chapter evaluates the effectiveness of screening for carotid artery disease, which by definition means identifying patients with asymptomatic internal carotid disease. A literature review of the history of carotid screening for both general and high-risk populations was undertaken, and the cost-effectiveness of screening programs analyzed. Despite the increased interest related to patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis, screening for carotid artery disease is difficult to justify as the prevalence of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and risk of subsequent ipsilateral stroke are low in the general public. Moreover, the number of patients needed to screen in order to prevent one stroke is excessive. At present, there are no data supporting screening for asymptomatic carotid disease in individuals appropriately treated for cardiovascular risk reduction. It is unlikely that screening for carotid artery disease will improve patient care or be cost-effective.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA

    Faisal Aziz M.D., RVT, RPVI

  2. Jobst Vascular Institute, The Toledo Hospital, 2109 Hughes Dr, Suite 400, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA

    Faisal Aziz M.D., RVT, RPVI & Anthony J. Comerota M.D., RVT, FACS, FACC

  3. Jobst Vascular Laboratory, Jobst Vascular Institute, The Toledo Hospital, Toledo, OH, USA

    Robert P. Scissons RVT, FSVU

  4. Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Anthony J. Comerota M.D., RVT, FACS, FACC

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  1. Faisal Aziz M.D., RVT, RPVI
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  2. Robert P. Scissons RVT, FSVU
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  3. Anthony J. Comerota M.D., RVT, FACS, FACC
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Correspondence to Anthony J. Comerota M.D., RVT, FACS, FACC .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, Dept. Surgery, West Virginia University, MacCorkle Ave. SE 3100, Charleston, 25304, West Virginia, USA

    Ali F. AbuRahma

  2. , Interventional Cardiology, UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Cen, 9300 Campus Point Drive 7784, La Jolla, 92037, California, USA

    Dennis F. Bandyk

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Aziz, F., Scissons, R.P., Comerota, A.J. (2013). Role of Duplex Ultrasound in Carotid Screening. In: AbuRahma, A., Bandyk, D. (eds) Noninvasive Vascular Diagnosis. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4005-4_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4005-4_12

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