Carotid Artery Stenosis

Abstract

Seemant Chaturvedi, Peter M. Rothwell, eds 359 pages. Boca Raton, Fla: Taylor and Francis; 2005. $199.95. ISBN 0-8247-5417-4 Carotid Artery Stenosis is a complete review of atherothrombotic disease at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, its history, pathology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management. The book naturally divides itself into 5 general areas that are not acknowledged by headings. The first area (chapters 1 through 3) deals with the history, epidemiology, and pathophysiology of atherothrombotic carotid disease. The second area (chapters 4 and 5) deals with the evaluation of atherothrombotic disease at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. It includes computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and carotid duplex Doppler imaging with flow analysis. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and conventional cerebral angiography are dealt with only in passing. There is no chapter dedicated to transcranial Doppler (TCD) assessment of the effects of pathology in the carotid artery on intracranial arterial flow. The third area (chapters 6 through 11) covers the various medical therapeutic options for preventing progression of atherothrombotic disease. The fourth area (chapters 12 through 16) discusses the rationale for the various surgical therapeutic options, including a welcomed chapter on extracranial and intracranial bypass grafting. The fifth area (chapters 17 through 20) covers the endovascular considerations for management of atherothrombotic carotid disease. An editor’s summary chapter at the end of the book would have been helpful in binding all of the chapters together to provide a practical guide for the practicing physician at the bedside. My reaction to these general areas and some individual chapters follows. The first group of chapters deals with the introduction, epidemiology, pathology, and pathophysiology of carotid disease. The introductory chapter …