[Concordance of carotid bruit and positivity of computerized digital angiography of the epiaortic vessels in carotid stenotico-occlusive pathology].

256 patients (187 men and 69 women, aged 60 on the average) with carotid artery bruits, underwent digital subtraction angiography of the epiaortic vessels. The carotid artery stenoses of more than 50% and the carotid artery occlusions have been considered angiographically and compared with the evidences of the auscultation over the carotid bifurcation. The sensibility, specificity and overall accuracy of the carotid bruits were estimated. The sensibility was of 95%, the specificity of 83% and the overall accuracy of 92% when a carotid artery stenosis of more than 50% was detected. When a carotid occlusion was found the sensibility was of 71%, the specificity of 84% and the overall accuracy of 80%. When both the carotid stenosis of more than 50% and the carotid occlusion have been considered together, the sensibility was of 92%, the specificity of 84% and the overall accuracy of 90%. The Authors suggest that the carotid bruits are trustworthy witnesses of occlusive carotid artery disease.