Collaborative Hypertext of Radiology

carotid artery bruit

Differential diagnosis:

Atherosclerotic plaque or stenosis in common carotid artery or major vessels.
Normal vessel.

Asymptomatic bruits are a risk factor for stroke, and 75% of strokes occur in the carotid circulation. The majority of patients with bruits will have stenosis of 50% or more. The vast majority (90%) of strokes occur without prior symptoms.

REF: MacNeil BJ, Abrams HL. Brigham and Women's Hospital Handbook of Diagnostic Imaging. Chapter 27.

Charles E. Kahn, Jr., MD - 2 February 1995
Last updated: 1 October 2013