Intima-media thickness of carotid arteries.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search or original data
PubMed 25531661 · doi:10.1159/000366234
What was done
Narrative review describing carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement methodologies, sources of technical variability (patient, device, operator, and software), the updated Mannheim consensus criteria for distinguishing CIMT from plaques, and clinical indications for cardiovascular risk stratification.
What was found
The abstract provides no numerical data, effect sizes, or statistical metrics. It describes CIMT as a validated predictive marker for plaque occurrence and major cardiovascular events, primarily indicated for detecting coronary heart disease risk in intermediate-risk patients.
Why it matters
Highlights the necessity of certified operators and standardized protocols (such as the Mannheim consensus) to reliably quantify early atherosclerosis in clinical practice and trials.
Limits
Narrative review with no primary empirical data or systematic search methodology reported. The abstract provides no quantitative diagnostic accuracy metrics or statistical outcomes.
Cited by
- context Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) ultrasound can directly detect and visualize soft arterial plaque.