Clinical carotid measurements: present and future state.

The most satisfactory methods of evaluating the carotid artery have included Doppler imaging and ultrasonic duplex scanning. It is now recognized that these techniques are most accurate when used in combination with spectral analysis to more objectively determine the flow patterns present across this important bifurcation. In the centers where there is the most experience in their use, the sensitivity of the methods approach 90% and are most accurate for detecting high-grade stenoses (greater than 50% diameter reduction). The most promising future applications include the use of computerized pattern recognition techniques to quantitatively separate patients with varying degrees of disease.