MyEClinic
MyEClinic
Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Carotid artery stenosis diagnostic testing guidelines

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Charmaine Patel, M.D. [2]

Diagnostic Testing Guidelines

2011 ASA/ACCF/AHA/AANN/AANS/ACR/ASNR/CNS/SAIP/SCAI/SIR/SNIS/SVM/SVS Guideline on the Management of Patients With Extracranial Carotid and Vertebral Artery Disease (DO NOT EDIT)[1]

Diagnostic Testing in Patients With Symptoms or Signs of Extracranial Carotid Artery Disease (DO NOT EDIT)[1]

Class I
“1. The initial evaluation of patients with transient retinal or hemispheric neurological symptoms of possible ischemic origin should include noninvasive imaging for the detection of ECVD (Extracranial Carotid and Vertebral artery disease). (Level of Evidence: C)”
“2. Duplex ultrasonography is recommended to detect carotid stenosis in patients who develop focal neurological symptoms corresponding to the internal carotid artery territory. (Level of Evidence: C)”
“3. In patients with acute, focal ischemic neurological symptoms corresponding to the territory supplied by the left or right internal carotid artery, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA) is indicated to detect carotid stenosis when definitive sonography cannot be obtained. (Level of Evidence: C)”
“4. When extracranial or intracranial cerebrovascular disease is not severe enough to account for neurological symptoms of suspected ischemic origin, echocardiography should be performed seeking a source of cardiogenic embolism. (Level of Evidence: C)”
“5. Correlation of findings obtained by several carotid imaging modalities should be part of a program of quality assurance in each laboratory that performs such diagnostic testing. (Level of Evidence: C)”
  • In revascularization candidates:
Class IIa
“1. When an extracranial source of ischemia is not identified in patients with transient retinal or hemispheric neurological symptoms of suspected ischemic origin, CTA, MRA, or selective cerebral angiography can be useful to search for intracranial vascular disease. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
“2. When the results of initial noninvasive imaging are inconclusive, additional examination by use of another imaging method is reasonable. In candidates for revascularization, MRA or CTA can be useful when results of carotid duplex ultrasonography are equivocal or indeterminate. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
“3. When intervention for significant carotid stenosis detected by carotid duplex ultrasonography is planned, MRA, CTA, or catheter-based contrast angiography can be useful to evaluate the severity of stenosis and to identify intrathoracic or intracranial vascular lesions that are not adequately assessed by duplex ultrasonography. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
“4. When noninvasive imaging is inconclusive or not feasible because of technical limitations or contraindications in patients with transient retinal or hemispheric neurological symptoms of suspected ischemic origin, or when noninvasive imaging studies yield discordant results, it is reasonable to perform catheter-based contrast angiography to detect and characterize extracranial and/or intracranial cerebrovascular disease. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
“5. MRA without contrast is reasonable to assess the extent of disease in patients with symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis and renal insufficiency or extensive vascular calcification. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
“6. It is reasonable to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems capable of consistently generating high-quality images while avoiding low-field systems that do not yield diagnostically accurate results. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
“7. CTA is reasonable for evaluation of patients with clinically suspected significant carotid atherosclerosis who are not suitable candidates for MRA because of claustrophobia, implanted pacemakers, or other incompatible devices. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
Class IIb
“1. Duplex carotid ultrasonography might be considered for patients with nonspecific neurological symptoms when cerebral ischemia is a plausible cause. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
“2. When complete carotid arterial occlusion is suggested by duplex ultrasonography, MRA, or CTA in patients with retinal or hemispheric neurological symptoms of suspected ischemic origin, catheter-based contrast angiography may be considered to determine whether the arterial lumen is sufficiently patent to permit carotid revascularization. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
“3. Catheter-based angiography may be reasonable in patients with renal dysfunction to limit the amount of radiographic contrast material required for definitive imaging for evaluation of a single vascular territory. (Level of Evidence: C) ”

Carotid Artery Evaluation and Revascularization Before Cardiac Surgery (DO NOT EDIT)[1]

Class IIa
“1. Carotid duplex ultrasound screening is reasonable before elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients older than 65 years of age and in those with left main coronary artery stenosis, PAD, a history of cigarette smoking, a history of stroke or TIA, or carotid bruit. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
“2. Carotid revascularization by CEA or CAS with embolic protection before or concurrent with myocardial revascularization surgery is reasonable in patients with greater than 80% carotid stenosis who have experienced ipsilateral retinal or hemispheric cerebral ischemic symptoms within 6 months. (Level of Evidence: C) ”
Class IIb
“1. In patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, even if severe, the safety and efficacy of carotid revascularization before or concurrent with myocardial revascularization are not well established. (Level of Evidence: C) ”

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Brott TG, Halperin JL, Abbara S, Bacharach JM, Barr JD, Bush RL; et al. (2011). “2011 ASA/ACCF/AHA/AANN/AANS/ACR/ASNR/CNS/SAIP/SCAI/SIR/SNIS/SVM/SVS guideline on the management of patients with extracranial carotid and vertebral artery disease: executive summary. A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Stroke Association, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American College of Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Society of Atherosclerosis Imaging and Prevention, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, Society for Vascular Medicine, and Society for Vascular Surgery”. Circulation. 124 (4): 489–532. doi:10.1161/CIR.0b013e31820d8d78. PMID 21282505.


Template:WH Template:WS

Imprint

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH