Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) in the Diagnosis of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis

Computed tomographic angiography is both a sensitive and specific imaging technique for identifying severe atherosclerotic stenosis and occlusion of the carotid arteries. Level of evidence: "A"

A systematic review 1 including 43 studies with a total of 1,877 subjects was abstracted in DARE. Compared to digital substraction angiography, the sensitivity of CTA was greater than 85% in all studies and the median sensitivity was 97%. Pooled sensitivity was 95% (95% confidence interval, CI: 91 to 97). Specificity was greater than 90% for severe stenosis and occlusion. The median specificity was 97%. The pooled specificity was 98% (95% CI: 96 to 99).

References

Hollingworth W, Nathens AB, Kanne JP, Crandall ML, Crummy TA, Hallam DK, Wang MC, Jarvik JG. The diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography angiography for traumatic or atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid and vertebral arteries: a systematic review. Eur J Radiol 2003 Oct;48(1):88-102. [PubMed] [DARE]

Primary/Secondary Keywords

evidence summary
DARE
systematic review
Atherosclerosis
Carotid atherosclerosis
Carotid artery
Computed tomographic angiography
CTA
Tomography, x-ray computed
Diagnosis

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Evidence summaries

Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) in the Diagnosis of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis

References