Carotid Compression Tonography

Abstract

One hundred twenty-two patients had carotid compression tonography (CCT) followed by bilateral carotid arteriography. In the group (82 patients) which was felt to have significant occlusive disease of the internal carotid at the level of the carotid bifurcation (>50% stenosis), the CCT showed a 92% correlation with arteriography. Of the group (48 patients) that underwent endarterectomy, there was a 94% correlation with CCT testing. In 40 patients, with normal arteriograms or with less than 50% stenotic lesions on arteriography, there was a large number (25%) of patients with a CCT test which appeared to indicate decreased flow. Various reasons for this are discussed. The high correlation of the CCT test and carotid arteriography in the patients with surgically amenable lesions would suggest that the CCT test is a good noninvasive screening technique for the detection of significant occlusive disease of the extracranial carotid vascular system.