Standardization of the carotid ultrasound examination: a review of current recommendations

Abstract

Objective – to review current recommendations and other publications on standardization of the neck ultrasound examination protocol. It was analyzed of published articles and recommendations for standardization of the ultrasound study protocol such organizations as: American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), American College of Radiology (ACR), Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU), American Society of Echocardiography ( ASE), Society of Vascular Medicine and Biology, European Association for Cardiovascular Imagin (EACVI), Ukrainian Association of Ultrasound Specialists (UAFUD), Ukrainian Doppler Club and others. Carotid ultrasound is a rapid non-invasive method for the diagnosis of atherosclerotic vascular injury, which is the method of choice for screening and primary assessment of the degree of stenosis. This method of imaging is very commonly used by practitioners both in Ukraine and abroad. Today there are a number of performance techniques and approaches to interpreting the results of Doppler ultrasound. The question of standardization of the neck ultrasound examination protocol to optimize the interaction of different physicians is nowadays raised. The main indications for ultrasound examination were determined, the main stages of ultrasound diagnostics of vessels of the neck were identified. The presence of certain differences regarding the recommendations of different organizations. The main criteria of stenosis of arteries of the neck were described.

Keywords

• ultrasound examination; stenosis; neck vessels; neck ultrasound protocol.