The role of angiography in the assessment of atherosclerotic disease. Assessment of the carotid bifurcation.

Paralleling recent developments in noninvasive vascular imaging of the carotid bifurcation, there have been several randomized therapeutic trials for carotid stenosis to identify which patients should receive treatment. Studies involved in neuroimaging have sought ways to evaluate carotid artery stenosis without standard angiography, whereas those involved in therapeutic decisions for patients with carotid stenosis have attempted to verify the use of carotid endartectomy and determine which patients benefit most from treatment. The methods of measurement for carotid stenosis, duplex ultrasound measurement comparisons, magnetic resonance angiography and computed tomographic angiography, and standard radiographic angiography are discussed.