Carotid Artery Disease Natural History, Diagnosis, and Therapy

Stroke remains a major complication of atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, with extracranial carotid occlusive disease accounting for nearly one-third of all events. Although historical symptoms and physical examination findings are important, objective testing with carotid duplex ultrasonography and magnetic resonance arteriography represent the foundation for therapeutic decision making. Contrast arteriography is playing a decreasing role in the evaluation of patients with carotid artery disease. Options for therapy, based on the presence or absence of symptoms and degree of stenosis, include antiplatelet therapy with cardiovascular risk factor modification, carotid endarterectomy, and more recently, endovascular therapy.