CIMT SCAN
WHAT IS A CIMT SCAN (Carotid artery Intima-Media Thickness)
WHY SHOULD I HAVE IT?
*CIMT scanning is a non-invasive ultrasound procedure, with no known associated risks, measuring the thickness of the inner most layers of the carotid artery and detecting atherosclerotic plaque responsible for the majority of heart attacks and strokes.
*CIMT is DIFFERENT than Carotid Duplex / Doppler examinations
Carotid Duplex is designed to determine the necessity of surgical intervention. The CardioRisk IMT exam can detect both advanced disease, and early cardiovascular disease – the latter of which accounts for the majority of cardiovascular events and can be managed with medical intervention
*In a 100,000 person-year study “CIMT caught 98.6% of the heart attacks and strokes before they happened. We just don’t have another test that has better data behind it.
*CIMT is painless, there are no needle sticks or disrobing, it only takes about 10 minutes of your time, and it gives us great data, not just to diagnose the disease, but also to monitor treatment should you need it. “
Approximately 50% of all cardio and cerebrovascular events happen to people who are asymptomatic and most of them do not have risk factors. Having an event was a huge surprise to them.
Non invasive ultrasound allows us to see the layers that make up the walls of the common carotid artery, intima, media and adventitia,. We can see the intima and media layers clearly enough to measure how thick they are down to one hundredths of a mm. As the intima and media layers get thicker the arteries get stiffer causing arteriosclerosis. We can also explore the bifurcation and internal carotid looking for plaque. If there is any plaque we are able to characterize it as soft, heterogenous or echogenic. We do not want plaque but if we have it we want it to be calcified (echogenic) so that it is more stable and less likely to break free.
Breakdown patients into 3 groups. Carotid artery Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) scans will help all of them
- Those with risk factors that are being treated. CIMT will help monitor how treatment is working and indicate if changes are necessary
- Those with risk factors that are not being treated or are refusing treatment. CIMT may provide motivation to follow treatment to those with no risk factors. Breaks down into two groups (after scanning).
- Green - healthy. Be happy you spent the money and had good results. Think about it like life insurance, you would much rather not collect.
- Yellow or Red - Have thickened arteries or worse. Be happy you know something you did not know before and follow the treatment plan the doctor prescribes to improve your health so that you are not part of the 40% who have an event.
Knowing this information helps the physician to make decisions about your treatment plan.
Patients who are asymptomatic must understand two key messages to see the value in doing a CIMT:
1) Approximately 50% of all cardio and cerebrovascular events happen to people who are asymptomatic and most of them do not have risk factors. Having an event was a huge surprise to them.
2) Arteriosclerosis is reversible