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$499 - Includes consultation with board-certified Diagnostic Radiologist Each test can be performed individually. Please contact Regents Imaging for pricing 760.630.0014. 
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Do you have a family history of heart disease or stroke? |
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Are you a man over 45 or a woman over 55 years old? |
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Are you 20 pounds or more overweight for your height and build or your body mass index score 25 or more? |
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Do you get less than a total of 30 minutes of physical activity on most days? |
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Is your blood pressure 140/90mm Hg or higher or has a physician told you that your blood pressure is too high? |
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Do you currently or live or work with people who smoke? |
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Is your total cholesterol level 200 mg/dl or higher? |
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Is your HDL “good” cholesterol level less than 40 mg/dl? |
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Do you have diabetes or do you need medication to control your blood sugar? |
| If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, you could be at risk for heart attack or stroke. These are risk factors commonly associated with vascular disease. This quiz is meant for intentional purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. | |
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Early detection of heart disease leads to prevention. HeartSmart IMTplus™ is a newly available diagnostic ultrasound exam for the early detection of cardiovascular disease. Protect your heart health…. Call Regents Imaging today to schedule your HeartSmart IMTplus™ exam. This safe, accurate, painless, and inexpensive exam can save your life or the life of a loved one. |
Carotid IMT Scanning
How Does the Carotid IMT Test Work?
The Carotid IMT test uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technology and FDA approved software to measure the thickness of the first two layers of the carotid arteries located in the neck, where blood-flow-blocking plaque first develops. Abnormal, premature thickening of the arterial walls is an early indicator of vascular disease throughout the body. The thicker the arterial wall, the greater the risk for heart attack or stroke. No other test available can measure these silent, early changes as accurately as high-resolution ultrasound imaging used together with the IMT measuring software.
We also specialize in detecting "soft" plaques, which are imaged and measured with a very high degree of accuracy and confidence. "Soft" plaques are plaques that are located in the arterial walls that have not hardened yet and are vulnerable to rupture. They can cause clots and may lead to future problems without lifestyle changes or medical treatment. These carefully taken plaque measurements, as well as the Carotid IMT measurements, are used as a baseline for direct comparison follow-up studies to assess the stability, progression, or regression of disease.
The test is a simple, non-invasive, 15-20 minute outpatient procedure that involves no pain, no needles, no pills, and exposes you to no radiation. During the test, you lie flat on an exam table for approximately 15 minutes. A small amount of gel is applied to your neck and sound beams are used to look at the thickness of your carotid arteries and for plaque formations. The test uses sophisticated ultrasound equipment, stringent test examination standards, and requires expert interpretation, so it's not widely available.
Regents Imaging brings decades of ultrasonography experience together with the latest technology so you can rest assured that the test will be performed as accurately as possible by a company that truly cares about your health.
Intimal-Medial Thickness (IMT) Test
The identification of patients at risk for heart attack and stroke is of great concern for a physician. There are now several "imaging" tests that can supplement our ability to detect the presence of atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid and coronary arteries.
Many patients have been sent for Electron Beam Cat Scans (EBCT) of their hearts. These tests have also been referred to as "calcium scans". This technique has several notable weaknesses. Most importantly, it does not identify early plaques, which are non-calcified, and cannot be used to track a patient's progress on therapy.
On the other hand, the measurement of Intimal-Medial Thickness (IMT) in the carotid arteries (in the neck) is a painless test that utilizes ultrasound scanning to detect and quantify the amount of thickening just below the inner lining of the carotid artery. No radiation. No needles. No pain. Affordable.
Why look at the neck when you are interested in the heart?
The carotid arteries provide a "window" to the coronary arteries.1Not only do they have similar risk factors - more importantly, the relationship between the atherosclerotic burden in a carotid artery and a coronary artery is the same as between any two coronary arteries. Thus, carotid atherosclerosis provides a window to the degree of coronary atherosclerosis in an individual. By examining the carotid artery wall rather than the blood pathway itself, risk prediction with carotid ultrasound identifies an earlier stage of atherosclerosis than standard Duplex carotid imaging, or any other imaging test for that matter.
Using a high-resolution B-mode ultrasound transducer, the common carotid, the carotid bulb, and the internal carotid artery can be interrogated to identify the presence of non-obstructive plaques and specifically to measure Carotid IMT, the combined thicknesses of the intimal and medial layers of carotid walls. Carotid IMT is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, cardiac death, and stroke.
1Young W, Gofman J, Tandy R, Malamud N, Waters E. The quantitation of atherosclerosis III. The extent of correlation of degrees of atherosclerosis with and between the coronary and cerebral vascular beds. Am J Cardiol 1960;8:300-8.
Early Detection Can Lead to Early Intervention
It's never too late to reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke. You and your physician can use the results of your CIMT test, in combination with your traditional cardiac risk factors, to create a customized heart-health action plan that may include suggestions for lifestyle modifications or specific treatments. Follow-up CIMT testing can track your progress as you work to reduce your risk.
Carotid IMT measurements can detect the minute, subtle thickness changes in the layers of your arterial wall lining and accurately assesses your "vascular age". No other technology approaches the accuracy of this simple, painless and affordable radiation-free exam.
Heart disease (clogging of the arteries) has long held the top spot in the list of causes of death throughout the world. One out every 4 victims of heart attacks will die as a result of their first attack! Despite years of cholesterol education and a billion dollar “fat-free” food industry, Americans still die most commonly from heart attacks and strokes caused by clogged arteries. Until now, physicians could only measure changes once the disease was far advanced and the patient had symptoms.
Now, with The Carotid IMT scan offered by Regents Imaging, your doctor can help you identify your risk for stroke or heart attack with accuracy better than other more invasive laboratory blood tests or expensive imaging studies. Once your risk is identified, you can develop a defense strategy of lifestyle and dietary changes or make better choices about prescription drugs. In many cases, the disease can be reversed.
Your doctor can monitor the progress of your health choices at appropriate intervals using the IMT scan as a tool to track and chart the atherosclerotic burden in your arteries. Ask your doctor, or call Regents Imaging 760.630.0014 for a Carotid IMT Scan today.
What is Atherosclerosis?
- Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries. It is caused by the slow buildup of plaque on the inside of walls of the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
- Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive disease that may start in childhood. It can affect the arteries of the brain, heart, kidneys, arms and legs.
- Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in your blood. As it grows, the buildup of plaque narrows the inside of the artery and, in time, may restrict blood flow and even calcify. Once calcification occurs, the blockage and buildup can only be removed through surgery.
- Hard plaque causes artery walls to thicken and harden. Soft plaque is more likely to break apart from the walls and enter the bloodstream, which can cause blood clots that can partially or totally block the flow of blood in the artery.
- As plaque builds up, it can cause serious diseases and complications. These include coronary artery diseases (Angina and Heart Attacks) and cerebrovascular disease (strokes), which are the leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Atherosclerosis usually does not cause symptoms until it severely narrows or totally blocks an artery. Therefore, it is usually diagnosed AFTER you develop complications.
- Regents Imaging will help you find out if you are developing vascular disease earlier than you should be for your actual age, and will also analyze and check for the type of plaque that should be closely monitored.
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Atherosclerosis: The Process In 4 Diagrams
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Normal Elastic Artery |
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Endothelial DysfunctionArterial elasticity is reduced with intimal thickening |
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Early Stages of AtherosclerosisChanges in the arterial wall have begun to impact blood flow and reduce arterial elasticity |
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Advanced Stage of AtherosclerosisArterial elasticity is markedly reduced and plaque formation has restricted blood flow |
Atherosclerosis Risk Factors
Scientists do not know the exact cause, but they do know that certain conditions increase your chance of developing Atherosclerosis.
Do You Have Any Of These Risk Factors?
Risk factors that you can’t control:
- Age—as you get older, your risk increases. Men-after 45, women-after 55.
- Family history of early heart disease or stroke.
Risk factors that you can control:
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Cigarette/tobacco smoking
- Diabetes
- Overweight
- Lack of physical activity
- Stressful lifestyle
Medical Support of Ultrasound Carotid IMT Measurements
Some of the most respected medical associations in the U.S. have recommended IMT measurement as a valuable indicator of cardiovascular risk and a likely indicator of future coronary events.
Below are just a few excerpts from a vast body of clinical studies and papers regarding the utilization of Carotid IMT measurements as a powerful additional tool to improve stratification of heart attack and stroke risk, especially in the low to intermediate risk population.
In 2002, the president of the American Society of Echocardiography had this to say about IMT exams:
"This test has been a mainstay of epidemiologic investigations of coronary and cerebrovascular disease for decades. Excellent data document the validity of using carotid findings to predict the state of the coronary circulation, and carotid IMT both detects patients with current disease as well as accurately predicts future cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Carotid IMT measurements have been proven to provide incremental data to traditional risk prediction based on clinical data."
"ASE President's Message." Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, June 2002.
(Circulation. 2000;101:111.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
AHA Scientific Statement
Prevention Conference V
Beyond Secondary Prevention : Identifying the High-Risk Patient for Primary Prevention : Executive Summary
Sidney C. Smith, Jr, MD; Philip Greenland, MD; Scott M. Grundy, MD, PhD
Conclusions:
"Carotid artery B-mode ultrasound imaging is a safe, noninvasive, and relatively inexpensive means of assessing subclinical atherosclerosis. The technique can measure IMT, an operational measure of atherosclerosis, in a valid and reliable manner. The severity of carotid IMT is an independent predictor of transient cerebral ischemia, stroke, and coronary events such as myocardial infarction. The writing group concluded that in asymptomatic individuals older than 45 years of age, carefully performed carotid ultrasound examination with IMT measurement can add incremental information to traditional risk factor assessment. In experienced laboratories, this test can now be considered for further clarification of CHD risk assessment at the request of a physician."
(Circulation. 2001;104:2815.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports
Carotid Intimal-Medial Thickness Is Related to Cardiovascular Risk Factors Measured From Childhood Through Middle Age The Muscatine Study
Patricia H. Davis, MD; Jeffrey D. Dawson, ScD; Ward A. Riley, PhD; Ronald M. Lauer, MD
Conclusions— Higher carotid IMT in young and middle-aged adults is associated with childhood and current cardiovascular risk factors, as well as risk factor load.
Carotid Wall Thickness is Predictive of Incident Clinical Stroke: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Lloyd E. Chambless1, Aaron R. Folsom2, Limin X. Clegg3, A. Richey Sharrett4, Eyal Shahar2, F. Javier Nieto5, Wayne D. Rosamond6 and Greg Evans7
1Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC
2Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
3National Cancer Institute Bethesda, MD
4National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Bethesda, MD
5Division of Epidemiology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
6Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC
7Department of Public Health, Bowman Gray School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC
Reprint requests to Dr. Lloyd E. Chambless, Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
Few studies have determined whether carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is associated prospectively with risk of first ischemic stroke. In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, carotid IMT, an index of generalized atherosclerosis, was defined as the mean of IMT measured by B-mode ultrasonography at six sites of the carotid arteries. The authors assessed the relation of mean IMT to stroke incidence over 6–9 years' follow-up (1987–1995) among 7,865 women and 6,349 men aged 45–64 years without prior stroke at baseline in four US communities. There were 90 incident ischemic stroke events for women and 109 for men. In sex-specific Cox proportional hazards models adjusting only for age, race, and community, the hazard rate ratios comparing extreme mean IMT values (1 mm) to values less than 0.6 mm were 8.5 for women (95% confidence interval: 3.5, 20.7) and 3.6 for men (95% confidence interval: 1.5, 9.2). The relation was graded, and models with cubic splines indicated significant nonlinearity, with hazards increasing more rapidly at lower IMTs than at higher IMTs. Thus, models using linear IMT values substantially underestimate the strength of the association at lower IMTs. The strength of the association was reduced by the inclusion of putative stroke risk factors, but it remained elevated at higher IMTs. Hence, mean carotid IMT is a noninvasive predictor of future ischemic stroke incidence. Am J Epidemiol 2000;151:478–87
Diagnostic
-Abdomen
-Aorta
-Renal
-Scrotum/Testicles
-Thyroid
-PelvicNon-Invasive Vascular Studies
-Aorta
-Carotid Duplex Study
-Peripheral Arterial Evaluation
-Venous (DVT) Reflex Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
Question
Why do I need a full bladder?
Answer
The Bladder acts as a window for better visualization of the uterus and ovaries. With out the window the uterus and ovaries are very hard to visualize and pathology may be missed.
Question
Why do I have to fast before my Abdomen exam?
Answer
Fasting alleviates bowel gas which is hard to see through, plus when you eat the gallbladder contracts making it impossible to visualize any gallstones.
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