Carotid Screening in the Asymptomatic Patient

There is no evidence in the peer-reviewed medical literature supporting the value of carotid artery screening using duplex ultrasound in asymptomatic patients without clinical risk factors. Therefore, the AIUM states that, at this time, the use of ultrasound in carotid artery screening in asymptomatic patients without clinical risk factors has no proven clinical benefit.

In asymptomatic patients with clinical risk factors, there is at best limited evidence in the peer-reviewed medical literature establishing the value of duplex carotid artery screening. Therefore, the AIUM states that, at this time, the use of ultrasound in carotid artery screening in asymptomatic patients with clinical risk factors has no proven clinical benefit. Duplex carotid screening of selected high-risk subpopulations may be of some benefit in cases in which the prevalence of stenosis is expected to be high and the patient’s surgical risk is low. Examples of such high-risk groups may include patients with 3 or more cardiac risk factors, symptomatic peripheral vascular disease, or previous head and neck malignancy.

The AIUM urges investigators to perform properly designed research projects to evaluate the efficacy of these screening examinations.

Reference:  http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/