What is a carotid intimal medial thickness?

A carotid intima-media thickness test (CIMT) is used to determine the extent of plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries supplying blood to the head. If a CIMT shows increased thickness in the inner layers of the carotid artery, you may be at risk for cardiovascular disease.

What causes carotid intima thickening?

Aging is a contributing factor to increased carotid intima-media thickness. Other risk factors include high lipoprotein levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Physicians use CIMT testing to determine the “age” of the carotid arteries.

What does mild intimal thickening mean?

Intima-media thickness (IMT) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis (asymptomatic organ damage) and should be evaluated in every asymptomatic adult or hypertensive patient at moderate risk for cardiovascular disease.

Is CIMT test accurate?

CIMT measurements by ultrasound may be used for the assessment of AS and risk to develop CAD. Current findings indicate 78% sensitivity and 75% specificity, which shows that it is able to correctly diagnose the disease with accuracy.

What is a good CIMT score?

Based on some large population studies, normal CIMT values were defined. CIMT above the 75th percentile of average for the age, gender and ethnicity or absolute thickness more than 1.0 mm are considered an abnormal result, and people with IMT in less than the 50th percentile are classified in the low risk group.

How accurate is CIMT test?

What is common carotid artery?

The Common Carotid artery is a large elastic artery which provides the main blood supply to the head and neck. The carotid arteries are the primary vessels supplying blood to the brain and face.

Is CIMT covered by insurance?

To date, Medicare and most private insurance plans do not routinely pay for CIMT testing. Yet, CardioHealth® is a safe, FDA-approved test that is recognized as a valid means for detecting subclinical vascular disease to assess risk for heart disease. We have priced it comparable to coronary calcium scanning.

Do common carotid intima-media thickness measurements improve cardiovascular risk prediction?

Common carotid intima-media thickness measurements in cardiovascular risk prediction: a meta-analysis The addition of common CIMT measurements to the Framingham Risk Score was associated with small improvement in 10-year risk prediction of first-time myocardial infarction or stroke, but this improvement is unlikely to be of clinical importance.

What is intima media thickness (IMT)?

Intima-media thickness (IMT) is an indirect sonographic assessment of the degree of atheromatous vascular disease of end organs. The thickness of the media and the intima of the vessels changes following many conditions and it can be easily and reliably assessed with ultrasound on B mode in the common carotid arteries (CCA) 1,2.

How is the thickness of the common carotid arteries assessed?

The thickness of the media and the intima of the vessels changes following many conditions and it can be easily and reliably assessed with ultrasound on B mode in the common carotid arteries (CCA) 1,2 . There are different protocols for assessment of CCA-IMT.

What is the IMT of the common carotid artery (CCA)?

sagittal imaging of the CCA has to be used and take at least five measurements on each side to obtain an average value (“average IMT”) measure on the posterior wall of the common carotids on the right and on the left, 1 cm from the carotid bifurcation