With the advent of highly effective new clot-busting drugs, doctors want to reach stroke victims early.
But finding and treating people even earlier — before they have a stroke — is even better yet.
To do that, doctors must seek and destroy carotid artery disease, an important predictor of strokes — the nation’s third leading cause of death. Ten years ago that search required a carotid angiogram, or arteriogram, an invasive procedure that carries its own slight risk of stroke. Today, patients and doctors have a choice of quick, painless and non-invasive imaging techniques, primarily Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and computed tomography angiography (CTA).
Please refer to the March 2001 issue for the complete story. For information on article reprints, contact Martin St. Denis
