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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
09:33

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology

Published on: February 7, 2015

Clinical significance of carotid bruits: an innocent finding or a useful warning sign?

Kosmas I Paraskevas1, George Hamilton, Dimitri P Mikhailidis

  • 1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Vascular Disease Prevention Clinic, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.

Neurological Research
|October 28, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Carotid bruits are a valuable, inexpensive sign for detecting carotid artery stenosis, though further investigation is needed. Their presence indicates systemic atherosclerosis, prompting preventive measures.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Medicine
  • Diagnostic Clinical Examination

Background:

  • Carotid bruits are audible sounds caused by turbulent blood flow in the carotid arteries.
  • Their clinical significance in diagnosing carotid artery disease requires elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the clinical relevance of detecting carotid bruits.
  • To assess the diagnostic utility of carotid auscultation for carotid artery stenosis and systemic atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed.
  • Keywords included 'carotid bruit', 'stroke', 'cerebrovascular symptoms', 'carotid artery stenosis', and 'carotid artery disease'.
  • Reference lists of relevant studies were also reviewed.

Main Results:

  • Carotid bruits exhibit high specificity (>90%) for detecting carotid artery stenosis.
  • The method offers high negative predictive value (>90%) and accuracy (>90%), despite low sensitivity (<30%) and positive predictive values (<30%).
  • Carotid bruits are associated with systemic atherosclerosis and increased prevalence of vascular risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • Carotid auscultation is a cost-effective diagnostic tool beneficial in general physical examinations.
  • While a useful indicator of carotid disease, further investigation like ultrasonography is recommended for confirmation.
  • Detecting carotid bruits presents an opportunity for early intervention in systemic atherosclerosis and preventive care.
Abstract

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