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What is it?
Ultrasound of the neck vessels is a medical imaging method where ultrasound waves are used to obtain images of the cervical vessels. It allows for the study of blood flow in the brachiocephalic arteries: the subclavian, vertebral, common, internal, and external carotid arteries. In addition to conventional ultrasound, the neck vessels can be examined using duplex and triplex scanning. Duplex scanning includes standard ultrasound and Doppler ultrasonography, while triplex scanning, in addition to this, provides a color mapping image, which allows the visualization of the vessels in color, as well as arterial and venous blood.
Duplex Ultrasound Scanning of Vessels
Duplex ultrasound scanning, firstly, allows for the visual assessment of vessel patency and the identification of the causes of its impairment — tortuosity of the course, wall thickening (stenosis), the presence of thrombi, plaques, developmental anomalies, implanted stents, postoperative vascular anastomoses, etc. Secondly, it assesses the speed and direction of blood flow. Thus, two functions are investigated, hence the name — duplex.
Triplex Ultrasound Scanning of Vessels
It expands the capabilities of duplex scanning by adding color Doppler modes, i.e., a color image of blood movement in the vessels, which provides a more illustrative assessment of the direction and speed of blood flow, and also allows for a more accurate evaluation of vessel patency and the degree of stenosis. Thus, three objectives are achieved: the anatomy of the vessels is investigated, blood flow is assessed, and the vessel patency is precisely evaluated in color mode.
The main goal of neck ultrasound is most often the assessment of the state of the carotid arteries, as they play a vital role in supplying the human brain with blood and, consequently, oxygen. Pathologies affecting the carotid arteries often lead to a dangerous disruption of cerebral blood flow — stroke. Atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery can contain cholesterol and calcium, and their prolonged accumulation causes narrowing of the carotid artery, impeding blood flow to the brain, thereby increasing the risk of stroke. Thus, ultrasound of the neck vessels can help detect carotid artery atherosclerosis at an early stage and initiate timely treatment.
During Doppler ultrasonography of the neck vessels, the following are performed:
• Analysis of the arterial walls with measurement of wall thickness. The results obtained by automatic measurement are compared with normal values established for men and women depending on age.
• Analysis of blood circulation velocity — based on the Doppler effect, as well as visualization of the arterial lumen (circulatory blood flow) using color ultrasound.
• Search for thrombi and atheromas (composed of lipids), which can form plaques that reduce the arterial lumen (stenosis) or completely obliterate it.
• Ultrasound also helps detect the presence of congenital malformations.
If this examination reveals the presence of problems, the physician can take measures to eliminate them with medicinal or surgical treatment, depending on the situation.
Indications for Neck Ultrasound
Ultrasound examination of the neck vessels is justified in the following cases:
• Your parents suffered a vascular disease (infarction, hemiplegia, aneurysm) before the age of 60.
• In case of dizziness, frequent headaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), numbness of the hands, visual impairment.
• Presence of stents in the coronary vessels. After some time, a global assessment of the arterial state is advisable. Coronary artery disease is rarely isolated: every second case has a coexisting condition: cerebrovascular disease or obliterating arteriopathy of the lower limbs.
• Prior stroke.
• Aortic aneurysm, obliterative peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery disease.
• Episode of transient ischemic attack (TIA).
• Alzheimer's disease.
• Monitoring of existing plaques.
• Examination of patients with hypertensive disease.
• Diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, obesity, smoking.
• Examination of patients undergoing radiation therapy in the neck region.
• Age over 40-45 years, even if there are no symptoms.
• Patients requiring vascular surgery.
• Examination of patients with dyslipidemia for the purpose of prescribing preventive therapy.
• Vascular developmental anomalies.
• In addition, ultrasound of the neck vessels may also be indicated for monitoring the patient's condition after surgery on the coronary artery, aorta, carotid, or peripheral artery.
How the Procedure is Performed
Ultrasound of the cervical vessels is a painless imaging method. The procedure usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. The day before, one should refrain from consuming energy drinks, strong tea, and coffee, and stop smoking two hours prior. The patient must also inform the doctor about taking any medications prescribed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
The stages of the ultrasound examination of the cervical vessels are as follows:
• The examination is conducted while the patient is sitting and lying down.
• It is necessary to remove all jewelry from the neck before the procedure.
• The physician applies a layer of gel to the patient's neck so that the transducer can move easily and ensure the best transmission of sound waves.
• Then the physician moves the transducer, and the ultrasound waves emitted by it reach the arteries and veins.
• The results are displayed on a computer monitor.
• Based on the visualization, the physician will make a conclusion about the state of the patient's neck vessels.
• At the end of the examination, the patient will receive a report with the study results and an assessment of risk factors.
• In case of severe lesions, the attending physician will prescribe treatment and recommend monitoring of the vessel condition with a specific periodicity.
Why is it Important to Undergo Ultrasound Examination of the Neck Vessels?
Neck ultrasound is a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive, and contraindication-free method capable of accurately determining the cause and nature of blood flow disturbances in the vessels with high precision. The brain is a highly sensitive organ to changes in blood supply. Just 4 minutes of circulatory disturbance is enough to cause brain damage. That's why it's so important to detect carotid artery stenosis and treat it before it becomes symptomatic. The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior half of the brain. The vertebral arteries supply blood to the posterior half. However, there is a circular network where these arteries connect to limit brain damage in case of changes in blood flow. A patient with carotid artery disease must be examined from the perspective of metabolism and blood coagulation to correct risk factors and plan prevention of disease progression. Depending on the study results, therapeutic decisions are made, both pharmacological in nature, especially antiplatelet therapy, and surgical, with the performance of carotid endarterectomy or stent placement to expand a partially occluded artery. In the presence of familial cases, prevention in the cardiovascular field is fundamental, which is why periodic Doppler ultrasonography of the neck is necessary.
Advantages of Neck Ultrasound at Expert Clinics
Expert Clinics provides neck ultrasound services under the guidance of experienced physicians with vast work experience. The clinic is equipped with modern equipment, which allows for high-quality examinations and accurate results. Neck ultrasound at Expert Clinics allows for a comprehensive examination of this region, which helps to detect various pathologies and diseases. An individual approach is provided to each patient, considering their features and needs. The results of the examination are available in the shortest possible time, allowing for the rapid initiation of treatment if necessary.
Ultrasound of the neck vessels is a medical imaging method where ultrasound waves are used to obtain images of the cervical vessels. It allows for the study of blood flow in the brachiocephalic arteries: the subclavian, vertebral, common, internal, and external carotid arteries. In addition to conventional ultrasound, the neck vessels can be examined using duplex and triplex scanning. Duplex scanning includes standard ultrasound and Doppler ultrasonography, while triplex scanning, in addition to this, provides a color mapping image, which allows the visualization of the vessels in color, as well as arterial and venous blood.
Duplex Ultrasound Scanning of Vessels
Duplex ultrasound scanning, firstly, allows for the visual assessment of vessel patency and the identification of the causes of its impairment — tortuosity of the course, wall thickening (stenosis), the presence of thrombi, plaques, developmental anomalies, implanted stents, postoperative vascular anastomoses, etc. Secondly, it assesses the speed and direction of blood flow. Thus, two functions are investigated, hence the name — duplex.
Triplex Ultrasound Scanning of Vessels
It expands the capabilities of duplex scanning by adding color Doppler modes, i.e., a color image of blood movement in the vessels, which provides a more illustrative assessment of the direction and speed of blood flow, and also allows for a more accurate evaluation of vessel patency and the degree of stenosis. Thus, three objectives are achieved: the anatomy of the vessels is investigated, blood flow is assessed, and the vessel patency is precisely evaluated in color mode.
The main goal of neck ultrasound is most often the assessment of the state of the carotid arteries, as they play a vital role in supplying the human brain with blood and, consequently, oxygen. Pathologies affecting the carotid arteries often lead to a dangerous disruption of cerebral blood flow — stroke. Atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery can contain cholesterol and calcium, and their prolonged accumulation causes narrowing of the carotid artery, impeding blood flow to the brain, thereby increasing the risk of stroke. Thus, ultrasound of the neck vessels can help detect carotid artery atherosclerosis at an early stage and initiate timely treatment.
During Doppler ultrasonography of the neck vessels, the following are performed:
• Analysis of the arterial walls with measurement of wall thickness. The results obtained by automatic measurement are compared with normal values established for men and women depending on age.
• Analysis of blood circulation velocity — based on the Doppler effect, as well as visualization of the arterial lumen (circulatory blood flow) using color ultrasound.
• Search for thrombi and atheromas (composed of lipids), which can form plaques that reduce the arterial lumen (stenosis) or completely obliterate it.
• Ultrasound also helps detect the presence of congenital malformations.
If this examination reveals the presence of problems, the physician can take measures to eliminate them with medicinal or surgical treatment, depending on the situation.
Indications for Neck Ultrasound
Ultrasound examination of the neck vessels is justified in the following cases:
• Your parents suffered a vascular disease (infarction, hemiplegia, aneurysm) before the age of 60.
• In case of dizziness, frequent headaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), numbness of the hands, visual impairment.
• Presence of stents in the coronary vessels. After some time, a global assessment of the arterial state is advisable. Coronary artery disease is rarely isolated: every second case has a coexisting condition: cerebrovascular disease or obliterating arteriopathy of the lower limbs.
• Prior stroke.
• Aortic aneurysm, obliterative peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery disease.
• Episode of transient ischemic attack (TIA).
• Alzheimer's disease.
• Monitoring of existing plaques.
• Examination of patients with hypertensive disease.
• Diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, obesity, smoking.
• Examination of patients undergoing radiation therapy in the neck region.
• Age over 40-45 years, even if there are no symptoms.
• Patients requiring vascular surgery.
• Examination of patients with dyslipidemia for the purpose of prescribing preventive therapy.
• Vascular developmental anomalies.
• In addition, ultrasound of the neck vessels may also be indicated for monitoring the patient's condition after surgery on the coronary artery, aorta, carotid, or peripheral artery.
How the Procedure is Performed
Ultrasound of the cervical vessels is a painless imaging method. The procedure usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. The day before, one should refrain from consuming energy drinks, strong tea, and coffee, and stop smoking two hours prior. The patient must also inform the doctor about taking any medications prescribed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
The stages of the ultrasound examination of the cervical vessels are as follows:
• The examination is conducted while the patient is sitting and lying down.
• It is necessary to remove all jewelry from the neck before the procedure.
• The physician applies a layer of gel to the patient's neck so that the transducer can move easily and ensure the best transmission of sound waves.
• Then the physician moves the transducer, and the ultrasound waves emitted by it reach the arteries and veins.
• The results are displayed on a computer monitor.
• Based on the visualization, the physician will make a conclusion about the state of the patient's neck vessels.
• At the end of the examination, the patient will receive a report with the study results and an assessment of risk factors.
• In case of severe lesions, the attending physician will prescribe treatment and recommend monitoring of the vessel condition with a specific periodicity.
Why is it Important to Undergo Ultrasound Examination of the Neck Vessels?
Neck ultrasound is a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive, and contraindication-free method capable of accurately determining the cause and nature of blood flow disturbances in the vessels with high precision. The brain is a highly sensitive organ to changes in blood supply. Just 4 minutes of circulatory disturbance is enough to cause brain damage. That's why it's so important to detect carotid artery stenosis and treat it before it becomes symptomatic. The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior half of the brain. The vertebral arteries supply blood to the posterior half. However, there is a circular network where these arteries connect to limit brain damage in case of changes in blood flow. A patient with carotid artery disease must be examined from the perspective of metabolism and blood coagulation to correct risk factors and plan prevention of disease progression. Depending on the study results, therapeutic decisions are made, both pharmacological in nature, especially antiplatelet therapy, and surgical, with the performance of carotid endarterectomy or stent placement to expand a partially occluded artery. In the presence of familial cases, prevention in the cardiovascular field is fundamental, which is why periodic Doppler ultrasonography of the neck is necessary.
Advantages of Neck Ultrasound at Expert Clinics
Expert Clinics provides neck ultrasound services under the guidance of experienced physicians with vast work experience. The clinic is equipped with modern equipment, which allows for high-quality examinations and accurate results. Neck ultrasound at Expert Clinics allows for a comprehensive examination of this region, which helps to detect various pathologies and diseases. An individual approach is provided to each patient, considering their features and needs. The results of the examination are available in the shortest possible time, allowing for the rapid initiation of treatment if necessary.
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