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Predictive value of cervical bruit for the detection of obstructive lesions of the internal carotid artery. Data from 2000 patients

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Abstract

Between January 1982 and June 1985, 2000 patients with either symptoms of cerebrovascular insufficiency (1873) or asymptomatic cervical bruits (127) were studied at the Surgical Department of the University of Brescia (Italy). Of these, 441 presented a mono- or bilateral cervical bruit.

The value of the bruit as indicator of an obstructive pathology of the extracranial carotid artery was evaluated in comparison with the findings of Doppler spectrum analysis. A stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery was present in 51% of the patients with a bruit (homolateral to the bruit in 91% of the cases) and in 9% of those without a bruit. Stenoses of a medium-high degree were those more often associated with the bruit. Both in patients with bruit and in those without bruit the age and the severity of the presenting symptoms significantly influenced the rate of association with lesions of the internal carotid artery was present in 51% of the patients with a bruit (homolateral to the bruit in 91% of the cases) and in 9% of those without a bruit. Stenoses of a medium-high degree were those more often associated with the bruit. Both in patients with bruit and in those without bruit the age and the severity of the presenting symptoms significantly influenced the rate of association with lesions of the internal carotid artery.

Sommario

Presso la Clinica Chirurgica dell'Università di Brescia (Italia) dal gennaio 1982 al giugno 1985 sono stati studiati 2.000 pazienti che presentavano o sintomi di insufficienza cerebrovascolare (1.873) o soffi carotidei asintomatici (127).

In totale 441 di questi pazienti presentavano soffi mono-o bilaterali in regione cervicale.

Il valore di un soffio come indice di patologia ostruttiva della carotide extracranica è stato valutato utilizzando il Doppler con analisi spettrale come esame di riferimento.

Nel 51% dei pazienti con un soffio era presente una lesione della carotide (nel 91% dei casi omolateralmente al soffio) la quale era presente, peraltro, anche nel 9% dei pazienti in cui non erano rilevabili soffi.

Sia nei pazienti con soffi che in quelli senza, l'età e la gravità dei sintomi iniziali rappresentavano i principali fattori correlati con l'entità dell'ostruzione carotidea.

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Floriani, M., Giulini, S.M., Anzola, G.P. et al. Predictive value of cervical bruit for the detection of obstructive lesions of the internal carotid artery. Data from 2000 patients. Ital J Neuro Sci 10, 321–327 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02333779

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