carotid bruit

Introduction

A systolic murmur heard in the neck, but not the aortic valve area, produced by turbulent blood flow through the internal carotid artery.

Etiology

carotid stenosis

Pathology

An asymptomatic carotid bruit is a weak predictor of an adverse cerebrovascular event. Patients with an asymptomatic carotid bruit are also more likely to experience myocardial infarction & cardiovascular death (hazzard ratio ~ 2). Thus a carotid bruit is a likely marker for atherosclerosis in general.

Management

The US Preventive Services Task Force has recommended against routine carotid auscultation because the management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis is uncertain.

More general terms

• bruit

Additional terms

• carotid artery stenosis