Auscultation of the Neck in Occlusive Cerebrovascular Disease

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Abstract
Because atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels may be treated by medical and surgical means early diagnosis is necessary. Fifty patients with cerebrovascular disease were studied by auscultation of the 4 major cerebral vessels in the neck. Results were checked with arterio-graphic findings. Carotid murmurs were the most frequent abnormality and were a reliable indication of atherosclerotic plaques. Carotid sounds of low intensity on one side also indicated atherosclerotic disease. Auscultation of carotid arteries led to the detection of 57% of atherosclerotic plaques. In the vertebral system accuracy was 40%; in a further 40% murmurs were transmitted from subclavian arteries. Absence of vertebral sounds in all positions of the head is associated with disease of vertebral arteries in a high percentage of cases.