Non Invasive Carotid Exam (NICE)

• Narrowing (stenosis) of the carotid arteries
• Plaque buildup (atherosclerosis)
• Risk of stroke

The most widely used version is a carotid duplex ultrasound.

How it works:

• A technician places a probe on your neck with gel
• Sound waves create images of your arteries
• Doppler technology measures how fast blood is flowing

• Whether arteries are blocked or narrowed
• How severe the narrowing is (percentage)
• Whether blood flow is normal or reduced

The carotid arteries supply your brain, so problems here can lead to:

• Stroke
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) (mini-stroke)

Doctors often order this test if you have:

• Stroke symptoms (like weakness, speech trouble)
• A bruit (whooshing sound in the neck)
• Risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, or smoking