Carotid Ultrasound

Carotid Ultrasound

Carotid Ultrasound A carotid ultrasound is a painless diagnostic imaging test that examines the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain, face and neck. It checks for blood clots and plaque buildup in the carotid arteries, which could lead to a potential stroke. The technician guides a small hand-held device called a transducer over each side of the neck where the two carotid arteries are located. The transducer produces high frequency sound waves that echo off of the structures in the neck and convert into images on a computer screen. Combined with doppler technology, the speed and direction of the arterial blood flow can also be measured at the same time.