Carotid Bruit
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A carotid bruit is a vascular murmur sound (
bruit Bruit, also called vascular murmur, is the abnormal sound generated by turbulent flow of blood in an artery due to either an area of partial obstruction or a localized high rate of blood flow through an unobstructed artery. The bruit may be hear ...
) heard over the carotid artery area on auscultation during systole.


Associated conditions

It may occur as the result of carotid artery stenosis (though some disagree); however, most carotid bruits, particularly those found in younger or asymptomatic patients, are not related to any disease and are termed "innocent carotid bruits". A carotid bruit is unlikely to be heard if the stenosis occludes less than 40% of the diameter of the artery. Likewise, a stenosis of greater than 90% may not be heard, as the flow may be too low. Many carotid bruits are discovered incidentally in an otherwise asymptomatic patient. The presence of a carotid bruit alone does not necessarily indicate the presence of stenosis, and the physical examination cannot be used to estimate the degree of stenosis, if present; therefore, any bruit must be evaluated by ultrasound or imaging.DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination, 9th Edition, Chapter 8; Richard F. LeBlond, Donald D. Brown, Richard L. DeGowin


Pronunciation and terminology

Bruit is traditionally pronounced ''broot'', rhyming with ''boot'', although the etymologically accurate pronunciation ''bru´e'' or ''bru-e´'' is common in North American medical parlance.Stedman's Medical Dictionary - 28th Ed. In addition, while ''bruit'' and '' murmur'' are technically synonymous, the term ''bruit'' is generally reserved for arterial sounds in North America.


References


External links

{{Cardiovascular system symptoms and signs Vascular diseases