Carotid Doppler Study is a painless and harmless test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of the insides of your carotid arteries in order to show the movement of blood through your blood vessels.
There are two common carotid arteries, one on each side of your neck. They are divided into two parts: internal and external carotid arteries. The internal carotid arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your brain. The external carotid arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your face, scalp, and neck.
With this imaging technique, your doctor can see if there is any narrowing of your carotid arteries because of cholesterol deposits or some other problem. Over time, plaque can harden. If that happens, the hardened plaque decreases the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Sometimes the plaque ruptures. If that happens, a blood clot can form and prevent the flow of blood and can cause a stroke
This test is often used to evaluate people who have had a stroke or who might be at high risk for one because of reduced blood flow in the carotid arteries.
