A 56 year-old man presented with three brief spells of difficulty expressing his words and right arm weakness.

Angiogram of the Left Common Carotid Artery:  Note just distal to the carotid bifurcation, there is a critical stenosis of the left internal carotid artery. This is sluggish distal filling of the internal carotid. In this patient, the carotid ultrasound suggested complete occlusion. The differentiation is important as patients with complete occlusions are not surgical candidates, where patients with high grade stenosis benefit from carotid endarterectomy compared to conventional medical treatment.

Revised 04/25/06.
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