After nearly 40 years,

The results of a prospective study comparing ultrasound, intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography in the assessment of the degree of extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis are reported in patients with symptoms of recent carotid territory ischaemia. A total of 70 patients and 137 vessels were examined by all three techniques. The results obtained by each technique were reported blind. The mean difference (SD) for the comparison of magnetic resonance angiography and digital subtraction angiography was -0-7 (14)%, for ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography 3-1 (15)%, and for magnetic resonance angiography and ultrasound -3-8 (15)

SummaryThe causes of ischaemic stroke in young adults are many and diverse. Such patients usually require more extensive investigations in order to find an underlying cause than more elderly patients. It approximately 50% are ischaemic in nature (cerebral haemorrhage is relatively over-represented in this age group compared to the elderly).Reported incidence rates of ischaemic stroke in the young vary according to study design and population structure. The annual incidence of young stroke in the UK has been estimated at approximately 10 per 100 000 (female:male,

We compared the referral diagnoses of TIAs and minor strokes made by non-specialists with those of two consultant neurologists, in 565 consecutive cerebrovascular clinic patients, of whom 508 (90%) were referred with a diagnosis of any TIA or stroke. In 373 (73%), the neurologists felt the diagnosis of a cerebrovascular event to be correct. Agreement with the vascular syndrome (CVA vs. TIA) was significantly higher for patients with a referral diagnosis of stroke (136/176) (77%) than it was for patients with a referral diagnosis of TIA (200/332) (60%) (difference in proportions 17%, 95% CI 9-25). In 37 patients (7%) the neurologists confirmed the diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease but not the specific TIA/stroke diagnosis. Vascular surgeons were more likely to be correct in their referral diagnosis of carotid territory cerebrovascular disease (88% correct) than all other sources combined (63% correct) (difference in proportions 25%, 95% CI 11-39), but there was no significant variation in diagnostic accuracy between other individual groups. In 135/508 patients (27%) referred as any TIA or stroke, the diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease was undone. Alternative diagnoses included migraine (3%), epilepsy (1%), hyperventilation (1%), multiple sclerosis (1%) and a case of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, but many symptoms (8%) were unclassifiable. A strict comparison of diagnostic accuracy would have required assessment of patients not referred for specialist opinion, to estimate false-negative as well as false-positive diagnoses. However, in this patient group (which reflects current local practice) TIAs and strokes seem overdiagnosed.

Although observer variability in reporting can be considerable, no important differences were found among the different techniques widely used for measuring carotid stenosis.