BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCarotid duplexScan - carotid duplex; Carotid ultrasound; Carotid artery ultrasound; Ultrasound - carotid; Vascular ultrasound - carotid; Ultrasound - vascular - carotid; Stroke - carotid duplex; TIA - carotid duplex; Transient ischemic attack - carotid duplexCarotid duplex is an ultrasound test that shows how well blood is flowing through the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are located in the neck. They supply blood directly to the brain.UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed Ultrasound is a painless method that uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. The test is done in a vascular lab or radiology department.The test is done in the following way:You lie on your back. Your head is supported to keep it from moving. The ultrasound technician applies a water-based gel to your neck to help with the transmission of the sound waves. Next, the technician moves a wand called a transducer back and forth over the area. The device sends sound waves to the arteries in your neck. The sound waves bounce off the blood vessels and form images or pictures of the insides of the arteries. How to Prepare for the Test No preparation is necessary. How the Test will Feel You may feel some pressure as the transducer is moved around your neck. The pressure should not cause any pain. You may also hear a "whooshing" sound. This is normal. Why the Test is Performed This test checks blood flow in the carotid arteries. It can detect:Blood clotting (thrombosis) Narrowing in the arteries (stenosis) Other causes of blockage in the carotid arteriesYour health care provider may order this test if:You have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Transient ischemic attack (TIA)A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops for a brief time. A person will have stroke-like symptoms for ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You need a follow-up test because your carotid artery was found to be narrowed in the past or you have had surgery on the artery Your provider hears an abnormal sound called a bruit over the carotid neck arteries. This may mean the artery is narrowed. Normal Results The results will tell your provider how open or narrowed your carotid arteries are. For example, the arteries may be 10% narrowed, 50% narrowed, or 75% narrowed.A normal result means there is no problem with the blood flow in the carotid arteries. The artery is free of any significant blockage, narrowing, or other problem. What Abnormal Results Mean An abnormal result means the artery may be narrowed, or something is changing the blood flow in the carotid arteries. This is a sign of atherosclerosis or other blood vessel conditions.In general, the more narrowed the artery is, the higher your risk for stroke.Depending on the results, your provider may want you to:Consider surgery SurgeryCarotid artery surgery is a procedure to treat carotid artery disease. The carotid artery brings needed blood to your brain and face. You have one o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Have additional tests (such as cerebral angiography, CT angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography) Cerebral angiographyCerebral angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye (contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through the brain.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Magnetic resonance angiographyMagnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is an MRI exam of the blood vessels. Unlike traditional angiography that involves placing a tube (catheter) int...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent hardening of the arteries Hardening of the arteriesAtherosclerosis, sometimes called "hardening of the arteries," occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Repeat the test again in the future Risks There are no risks with having this procedure.Open ReferencesReferencesAdamczyx P, Liebeskind DS. Vascular imaging: computed tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and ultrasound . In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 41.Bluth EI, Johnson SI, Troxclair L. The extracranial cerebral vessels. In: Rumack CM, Levine D, eds. Diagnostic Ultrasound. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 26.Polak JF, Pellerito JS. Carotid sonography: protocol and technical considerations. In: Pellerito JS, Polak JF, eds. Introduction to Vascular Ultrasonography. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 5.AllVideoImagesTogCarotid duplex - illustration Carotid duplex is an ultrasound procedure performed to assess blood flow through the carotid artery to the brain. High-frequency sound waves are directed from a hand-held transducer probe to the area. These waves bounce off the arterial structures and produce a 2-dimensional image on a monitor, which will make obstructions or narrowing of the arteries visible.Carotid duplexillustrationCarotid Duplex Ultrasound - illustration This duplex Doppler sonogram shows an irregular plaque in the carotid artery. This type of plaque can cause clots to form, which can cause a stroke. Doppler studies are used to help identify these types of plaques ahead of time to prevent a stroke from happening.Carotid Duplex UltrasoundillustrationCarotid duplex - illustration Carotid duplex is an ultrasound procedure performed to assess blood flow through the carotid artery to the brain. High-frequency sound waves are directed from a hand-held transducer probe to the area. These waves bounce off the arterial structures and produce a 2-dimensional image on a monitor, which will make obstructions or narrowing of the arteries visible.Carotid duplexillustrationCarotid Duplex Ultrasound - illustration This duplex Doppler sonogram shows an irregular plaque in the carotid artery. This type of plaque can cause clots to form, which can cause a stroke. Doppler studies are used to help identify these types of plaques ahead of time to prevent a stroke from happening.Carotid Duplex Ultrasoundillustration Tests for Carotid duplex Carotid duplexDuplex ultrasound Related Information Ultrasound(Medical Test)Blood clots(Condition)Atherosclerosis(Condition)Carotid artery surgery - discharge(Discharge) Review Date: 7/26/2022 Reviewed By: Evelyn O. Berman, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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Carotid duplexScan - carotid duplex; Carotid ultrasound; Carotid artery ultrasound; Ultrasound - carotid; Vascular ultrasound - carotid; Ultrasound - vascular - carotid; Stroke - carotid duplex; TIA - carotid duplex; Transient ischemic attack - carotid duplexCarotid duplex is an ultrasound test that shows how well blood is flowing through the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are located in the neck. They supply blood directly to the brain.UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed Ultrasound is a painless method that uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. The test is done in a vascular lab or radiology department.The test is done in the following way:You lie on your back. Your head is supported to keep it from moving. The ultrasound technician applies a water-based gel to your neck to help with the transmission of the sound waves. Next, the technician moves a wand called a transducer back and forth over the area. The device sends sound waves to the arteries in your neck. The sound waves bounce off the blood vessels and form images or pictures of the insides of the arteries. How to Prepare for the Test No preparation is necessary. How the Test will Feel You may feel some pressure as the transducer is moved around your neck. The pressure should not cause any pain. You may also hear a "whooshing" sound. This is normal. Why the Test is Performed This test checks blood flow in the carotid arteries. It can detect:Blood clotting (thrombosis) Narrowing in the arteries (stenosis) Other causes of blockage in the carotid arteriesYour health care provider may order this test if:You have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Transient ischemic attack (TIA)A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops for a brief time. A person will have stroke-like symptoms for ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You need a follow-up test because your carotid artery was found to be narrowed in the past or you have had surgery on the artery Your provider hears an abnormal sound called a bruit over the carotid neck arteries. This may mean the artery is narrowed. Normal Results The results will tell your provider how open or narrowed your carotid arteries are. For example, the arteries may be 10% narrowed, 50% narrowed, or 75% narrowed.A normal result means there is no problem with the blood flow in the carotid arteries. The artery is free of any significant blockage, narrowing, or other problem. What Abnormal Results Mean An abnormal result means the artery may be narrowed, or something is changing the blood flow in the carotid arteries. This is a sign of atherosclerosis or other blood vessel conditions.In general, the more narrowed the artery is, the higher your risk for stroke.Depending on the results, your provider may want you to:Consider surgery SurgeryCarotid artery surgery is a procedure to treat carotid artery disease. The carotid artery brings needed blood to your brain and face. You have one o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Have additional tests (such as cerebral angiography, CT angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography) Cerebral angiographyCerebral angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye (contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through the brain.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Magnetic resonance angiographyMagnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is an MRI exam of the blood vessels. Unlike traditional angiography that involves placing a tube (catheter) int...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent hardening of the arteries Hardening of the arteriesAtherosclerosis, sometimes called "hardening of the arteries," occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Repeat the test again in the future Risks There are no risks with having this procedure.Open ReferencesReferencesAdamczyx P, Liebeskind DS. Vascular imaging: computed tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and ultrasound . In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 41.Bluth EI, Johnson SI, Troxclair L. The extracranial cerebral vessels. In: Rumack CM, Levine D, eds. Diagnostic Ultrasound. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 26.Polak JF, Pellerito JS. Carotid sonography: protocol and technical considerations. In: Pellerito JS, Polak JF, eds. Introduction to Vascular Ultrasonography. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 5.