Practical Noninvasive Neurovascular Imaging of the Neck Arteries in Patients with Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack, and Suspected Arterial Disease that May Lead to Ischemia, Infarction, or Flow Abnormalities

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 157,000 people a year with an estimated society cost of $58 billion in 2006. A large percentage of ischemic strokes is secondary to extracranial carotid and vertebral arterial disease. While digital subtraction angiography has traditionally been used for the initial evaluation of the degree of stenosis, noninvasive imaging has moved to the forefront in the extracranial arterial evaluation. The importance of understanding the imaging techniques, findings, interpretation, artifacts, and pitfalls is essential to appropriate patient management.