A number of ultrasonographic studies examining vascular diseases at common carotid artery- have been reported. However, ultrasonogrphic observasion of internal carotid artery can be feasible only within 2cm distal portion beyond bifurcation at carotid bulb. therefore, few ultrasonographic studies have been reported on the observation of internal carotid artery, whereas most of those studies have been. done using CT and / or MRA.
Since the introduction of transoral carotid ultrasonography recently, several reports on observasion of internal carotid artery using this technique have been reported. We investigated the transoral carotid ultrasonography in 10 normal healthy volunteers , and this technique provided arch-like profiles of the internal carotid artery in all cases.
Thus, the transoral carotid ultrasonography appears to be useful for assessment of distal portion of internal carotid artery which is located beyond bifurcation at carotid bulb and may not be detected by ultrasonography.
