Carotid artery stenosis a physician detects a carotid bruit, or murmur, over the carotid artery by listening through a stethoscope during a physical exam. For people with symptoms, the American Heart Association recommends initial screening using ultrasound (see diagnosis below). Carotid artery stenosis is usually diagnosed by color flow duplex ultrasound scan of the carotid arteries in the neck. This involves no radiation, no needles and no contrast agents that may cause allergic reactions. This test has good sensitivity and specificity. Typically duplex ultrasound scan is the only investigation required for decision making in carotid stenosis as it is widely available and rapidly
Internal carotid artery on its lateral side is the abducent nerve, or cranial nerve VI. The named branches of the cavernous segment are: The cavernous segment also gives rise to small capsular arteries that supply the wall of the cavernous sinus. The clinoid segment, or C5, is another short segment of the internal carotid that begins after the artery exits the cavernous sinus at the proximal dural ring and extends distally to the distal dural ring, after which the carotid artery is considered "intra-dural" and has entered the subarachnoid space. The clinoid segment normally has no named branches, though the ophthalmic artery may