Diagnostic Evaluation of the Carotid Arteries

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-109-10-835

Diagnostic Evaluation of the Carotid Arteries

Excerpt

This Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project report evaluates when and how to study the carotid arteries. Several commonly encountered clinical situations are considered, and recommendations are provided regarding whether or not diagnostic testing should be done and, if so, whether noninvasive or invasive tests are preferable. The study also evaluates the safety, contraindications, efficacy, limitations, and costs of available diagnostic tests. The uncritical use of diagnostic tests could lead to the identification of lesions not causally related to the patient's symptoms, and the discovery of such lesions might lead to unnecessary carotid angiography and endarterectomy. Recommendations regarding when and how to

This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments: The Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project (CEAP) of the American College of Physicians evaluates and informs College members and others about the safety and efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and medical practices. Evaluation of technologies begins with a notice in Annals of Internal Medicine and ACP Observer inviting comments. Appropriate members of the Council of Medical Societies, the Council of Subspecialty Societies, other specialty societies and selected outside experts are asked to review draft manuscripts. The CEAP statements thus represent a synthesis of the literature and expert opinion and are intended to reflect the current state-of-the art knowledge concerning a technology or a medical practice. Statements may be reconsidered as new information becomes available.

Article and Author Information

↵* This paper was authored by John R. Feussner, MD; and David B. Matchar, MD; and was developed for the Health and Public Policy Committee by the Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee: Paul F. Griner, MD, Chairman; Charles C. Smith, Jr, MD; Paul Calabresi, MD; Lockhart B. McGuire, MD; Earl P. Steinberg, MD; Harold J. Sox, Jr, MD. Members of the Health and Public Policy Committee were: Richard G. Farmer, MD, Chairman; Michael A. Nevins, MD; Charles E. Lewis, MD; Joseph E. Johnson III, MD; Paul F. Griner, MD; John M. Eisenberg, MD; F. Daniel Duffy, MD; Donald L. Feinstein, MD; C.S. Lewis, Jr, MD; Steven A. Schroeder, MD; Quentin D. Young, MD. This paper was approved by the Board of Regents on 29 February, 1988.
All previous CEAP statements and a subscription to future reports are now available in Clinical Efficacy Reports. This paper represents the third to be distributed in the 1988/89 subscription series.
Requests for Reprints: Linda Johnson White, Director, Department of Scientific Policy, American College of Physicians, 4200 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.