# Carotid Ultrasound MasterClass ## Metadata - Content type: Course - Canonical URL: https://123sonography.com/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass - Published: February 26, 2020 - Last updated: March 3, 2025 - Category: Vascular Ultrasound - Course Type: Master Class ## Overview The Carotid Ultrasound Masterclass teaches you all you need to know to perform a comprehensive scan of the carotid and vertebral arteries. Get 12 hours of high-quality video content with lectures, demos, documentaries, and expert statements of top authorities in the field. We put carotid ultrasound into a clinical context to help you understand the impact and the consequences of your findings. ## Media ![course_kacheln.jpg](https://123sonography.com/sites/default/files/legacy-files/image_course/course_kacheln.jpg) ## Snapshot - Duration: 11.6 hours - Total CME credits that can be earned: 10.5 - Chapters: 7 - Lectures: 31 - Quizzes: 6 ## Intended Audience - Cardiologists - Cardiovascular surgeons - Vascular surgeons - Anaesthetists - Radiologists - Physicians - Sonographers - Ultrasound technologists - Internists ## Faculty - [Prof. Thomas Binder, MD, FESC](/speaker/30) - Cardiologist, Head of Digital Learning; Medical University of Vienna - [Janet Hoyler, BA, RDMS, RVT](/speaker/60) - Ultrasound Instructor; Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard - [Christian Bancher, MD](/speaker/123) - Neurologist, Vienna - [Ludwig Steffgen, MD](/speaker/120) - Instructor; Ultrasound Trainings Center - [Univ.-Doz. Dr. Marcus Hörmann](/speaker/133) - Radiologist, Vienna - [Wilfried Röthy, MD](/speaker/34) - General surgery, Cardiothoracic surgery; Head of Department for vascular medicine, Health Center South Vienna - [Afshin Assadian, MD](/speaker/122) - Vascular surgeon, Vienna ## Learning Objectives - After completing the course, you will understand how a complete ultrasound scan of the carotid and vertebral arteries is performed. - Know how to measure the Intima Media Thickness (IMT). - Know how to detect and quantify carotid- and vertebral artery pathologies. - You will also learn the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and stroke and know which treatment options are available. ## Topics - Cardiology - Vascular / Angiology - Radiology - Internal Medicine - Family Medicine - Primary Care ## Pricing Options - Supported currencies: AED, CLP, COP, EGP, EUR, INR, MXN, PEN, QAR, USD ### One-Month Access - Payment type: Monthly subscription - Price: €165 - Currency: EUR - Access duration: 1 month - Add to cart: /add-to-cart/55/126 Take the most flexible route with a monthly subscription. You get: - Cancellation possible anytime after 4 months minimum run time - Ability to complete quizzes and earn CME credits ### Half-Year Access - Payment type: One-time payment - Price: €930 - Currency: EUR - Access duration: 6 months - Add to cart: /add-to-cart/55/314 Our shortest option for very fast learners. Ideal for people who have plenty of time to learn. You get: - 6 months access to our course - Ability to complete quizzes and earn CME credits ### One-Year Access - Payment type: One-time payment - Price: €1302 - Currency: EUR - Access duration: 12 months - Add to cart: /add-to-cart/55/315 Our most recommended access duration to dive deep into the course. Save 30% on the 6-month option. You get: - 12 months access to our course - Ability to complete quizzes and earn CME credits ### Two-Year Access - Payment type: One-time payment - Price: €2232 - Currency: EUR - Access duration: 24 months - Add to cart: /add-to-cart/55/316 If you want to take your time learning, this option is perfect for you. Save 40% on the 6-month option. You get: - 24 months access to our course - Ability to complete quizzes and earn CME credits ## Recommended Blog Posts - [ECA vs ICA](/blog/lecture/eca-vs-ica-external-versus-internal-carotid-artery) - External versus internal carotid artery - [Subclavian Steal Syndrom](/blog/lecture/subclavian-steal-syndrom) - In this article, we explain how to assess the subclavian steal syndrome. Learn when to suspect, detect, grade, and quantify the subclavia steal syndrome. - [Beat the heat – Which artifact can you find in this ultrasound loop? - Answer](/blog/ultrasound-summer-challenge-which-artifact-can-you-find-ultrasound-loop-answer) - Here is the answer to our Ultrasound Summer Challenge! - [Beat the heat – Which artifact can you find in this ultrasound loop?](/blog/cases/ultrasound-summer-challenge-which-artifact-can-you-find-ultrasound-loop) - Can you solve this ultrasound summer challenge? Which artifact can you find in this ultrasound loop of the common carotid artery? ## CME Information ### Introduction The goal of this activity is to provide online education for the course Carotid Ultrasound MasterClass. This activity is intended for physicians, sonographers/ultrasound technologists and vascular surgeons. ### Financial disclosures Prof. Dr. Binder does not have any relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose; Janet Hoyler does not have any relevant financial relationship to disclose; Christian Bancher does not have any relevant financial relationship to disclose; Ludwig Steffgen does not have any relevant financial relationship to disclose; Marcus Hörmann does not have any relevant financial relationship to disclose; Dr. Wilfried Röthy does not have any relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose; Afshin Assadian does not have any relevant financial relationship to disclose; Staff at Siyemi Learning and 123 Sonography do not have any relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.; Thomas Binder does not have any relevant financial relationship to disclose This course is certified for CME, further information on how to claim your CME credits can be found below. ### CME information This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Siyemi Learning and 123 Sonography. Siyemi Learning is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Siyemi Learning designates this enduring material for a maximum of 10.5 *AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™*. Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. ![](https://legacy.123sonography.com/profiles/sono/modules/custom/sonocertificates/resources/accme.png) ![](https://legacy.123sonography.com/profiles/sono/modules/custom/sonocertificates/resources/siyemi.png) ### How to earn your CME credit In order to earn credit, you must watch the videos, take the quiz (pass mark 75%), and complete the evaluation on your dashboard. While you can claim CME certificates as you work through each chapter, if you prefer (e.g. if you are only able to use full credits because you are based in Europe) you can claim a single certificate for your total activity in this course. It will be available to download on your dashboard after you have completed all quizzes and evaluated all chapters. Release date: 10 Sep 2020 Expiry date: 10 Sep 2023 Revision date: September 2023 Expiry date: September 2026 ## Curriculum ### Free lectures - Chapter content: 3 lectures and 0 quizzes - Lecture: [Free lecture 1](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_2326) (Duration: 00:15; Free) - In the first part, you will learn about the indications for carotid ultrasound and why it is easy to learn. Your course Instructors: Thomas Binder, MD (Medical University of Vienna, Austria), Janet Hoyler, BA, RDMS (US Instructor Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard). - Lecture: [Free lecture 2](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_2327) (Duration: 00:12; Free) - In this lecture we deal with the anatomy of the neck and show you how to image the carotid arteries. Your course instructors: Thomas Binder, MD (Medical University of Vienna, Austria) and Janet Hoyler, BA, RDMS (US Instructor Brigham and Women Hospital, Harvard) - Lecture: [Free lecture 3](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_2329) (Duration: 00:13; Free) - In this lecture, we cover “carotid plaques and stenosis,” which is probably the most important topic in carotid ultrasound. Your course instructors: Thomas Binder, MD (Medical University of Vienna, Austria) and Janet Hoyler, BA, RDMS (US Instructor Brigham and Women Hospital... ### Introduction to Carotid Ultrasound In this introductory chapter, we set the stage for carotid ultrasound. First, Prof. Thomas Binder, a cardiologist, and Janet Hoyler, a registered ultrasound- and vascular technologist, talk about the importance and clinical applications of carotid ultrasound. In which setting is it used and why is it such an important imaging modality? You will then learn about stroke, revisit the anatomy of the neck, and see what the anatomical structures look like on your ultrasound screen. - Chapter content: 4 lectures and 1 quizzes - Chapter CME credits that can be earned: 1.5 - Lecture: [Welcome to Carotid Ultrasound](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1045) (Duration: 00:30) - Why should we perform a carotid ultrasound in the first place and which information does it provide? Find out what the advantages and limitations of carotid ultrasound are and how it can help us to determine the risk for vascular disease. Here we go through all the different... - Lecture: [Stroke](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1171) (Duration: 00:20) - Dr. Bancher, a neurologist, will provide a summary of what a stroke actually is and how it affects patients. Topics include: Which types of stroke are there? Who is at risk? What are the typical symptoms? Do we need to worry about a TIA, and how does all this relate to carotid... - Lecture: [Anatomy](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1046) (Duration: 00:28) - Understanding anatomy and its variations is the basis of learning carotid ultrasound (and really, any imaging modality). In this lecture, we discuss both the external and internal cranial circulation using lots of graphics and radiologic images. You will also learn about... - Lecture: [US Anatomy](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1047) (Duration: 00:21) - Now that you know the anatomy of the vessels and the neck we will show you how to identify these structures on ultrasound. Here we will discuss not only the carotid arteries and their bifurcation, but also the jugular vein, the muscles we can see with ultrasound, the vertebral... - CME Quiz: CUMC - Introduction to Carotid Ultrasound (CME: 1.5) ### Imaging Fundamentals In this chapter, we dive deeper into the topic of imaging vessels with ultrasound. You will learn which transducer to use (and why this one), how to deal with artifacts. Do you know what the terms “angle of insonation” and “aliasing” mean? If not, find out here. The fundamentals you learn here will help you to fully grasp the concept, limitations but also fascination with ultrasound. Our experts also show you what to be mindful of when using different forms of Doppler ultrasound, and what Doppler imaging actually is, physically. - Chapter content: 4 lectures and 1 quizzes - Chapter CME credits that can be earned: 1.5 - Lecture: [Principles of Carotid US](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1048) (Duration: 00:25) - Have you ever imaged a fish in a bowl? In this lecture, we explain important fundamentals which will help you better understand your scanner so that you are fit to image your patients - we will discuss the basics of carotid imaging from a technical point of view. Topics include... - Lecture: [Hardware](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1049) (Duration: 00:19) - Which ultrasound system should you use? Which types of scanners are available and which transducers are used for the carotids? These are some of the most frequently asked questions. Get your questions about imaging hardware answered by a true expert - Ludwig Steffgen from the... - Lecture: [Optimizing B-Mode](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1166) (Duration: 00:21) - Every sonographer knows their B-mode image - but are you really getting everything you can out of your machine? In vascular ultrasound, we look at such small and fast-moving structures that knowing every little detail of optimizing your image, from time gain compensation to... - Lecture: [Doppler Imaging](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1167) (Duration: 00:32) - With Doppler imaging, you can look at physiology on your ultrasound screen. Ludwig Steffgen has been in the industry since the early 90s and knows everything there is to know about color Doppler and spectral Doppler. How does it work? What should you avoid? In this lecture, you... - CME Quiz: CUMC - Imaging fundamentals (CME: 1.5) ### How to Image Cervical Vessels Are you ready to start imaging? After laying out the basement for your successful career as a carotid sonographer, it is time to move to the scanner. In this chapter, you will learn how to position your patient, how to get standard views of the carotid and vertebral arteries, how to use Doppler ultrasound on them, and how to get the best out of your machine. In the last lecture, we discuss CT and MRI imaging as an alternative and complementary modality. - Chapter content: 8 lectures and 1 quizzes - Chapter CME credits that can be earned: 3 - Lecture: [Imaging Overview](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1050) (Duration: 00:15) - It’s time to start imaging! In this lecture, you will learn the two basic imaging planes for carotid ultrasound, how to obtain them, and some tips and tricks for difficult patients. We also talk about ergonomics and how to position yourself and the patient to avoid injury and... - Lecture: [Transverse and Longitudinal Views](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1051) (Duration: 00:24) - Are you ready for more demonstrations? This lecture is all about the basic views you have to get in every carotid exam. From the origin to the base of the skull, you will learn how to move and where to place your transducer to see everything there is to see in your patient. - Lecture: [Imaging the Bifurcation](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1052) (Duration: 00:18) - What are the standard views that you should record? Here we explain both transverse and longitudinal imaging planes and help you understand the orientation of vessels. See lots of examples of carotid arteries both in B-Mode and color Doppler. After all, not every patient looks... - Lecture: [Using Color Doppler](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1053) (Duration: 00:16) - Color Doppler is an essential part of every carotid ultrasound exam, but using color Doppler can be confusing. In which direction does blood really flow? How can I get the best angulation? Can I use color also in a transverse view? And how do I set my color box? You will find... - Lecture: [Spectral Doppler](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1168) (Duration: 00:32) - Spectral Doppler allows you to measure velocities in the arteries, but there is more to the topic. How do the curves differ? Where should we measure velocities? What are the normal velocities and what are some of the major pitfalls? Janet will demonstrate this and much more... - Lecture: [Telling ICA from ECA](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1169) (Duration: 00:25) - Differentiating the internal from the external carotid artery can be tricky if you are new to carotid ultrasound. We all had our problems at the beginning, so in this lecture, we show you simple tricks that will help you identify the arteries. And equally important: we provide... - Lecture: [Imaging Vertebral Arteries](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1054) (Duration: 00:19) - The vertebral artery has also been termed “the forgotten artery”, but imaging the vertebral arteries should be an integral part of every exam. This lecture explains the anatomy and topography of the vertebral arteries, how you can find them, and how you can determine the blood... - Lecture: [Role of Radiology](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1055) (Duration: 00:27) - No matter how good you will get with carotid ultrasound, you will run into situations where other imaging techniques are needed. In many patients, you will also need to know if they have (or had) a stroke. In other patients, you will want to confirm your findings. This is where... - CME Quiz: CUMC - How to Image Cervical Vessels (CME: 3) ### Pathologies in Carotid Ultrasound After learning how to get the image, this chapter is all about what you might find while scanning. We teach you the fundamentals of atherosclerosis, how to measure the intima-media-thickness, why plaque morphology is important, and how you can assess the hemodynamics of stenotic vessels. After watching this chapter, there is no finding in carotid ultrasound you’re clueless about. - Chapter content: 7 lectures and 1 quizzes - Chapter CME credits that can be earned: 3 - Lecture: [Atherosclerosis](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1056) (Duration: 00:14) - The main reason we perform a carotid US scan is to detect atherosclerosis. But what is the pathophysiology behind and how can we prevent it? Your understanding of carotid ultrasound and how to manage patients will be different after you watch this lecture. - Lecture: [Plaque / IMT](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1057) (Duration: 00:34) - This lecture covers a very important topic: How and why should you measure the IMT? How can IMT and plaque detection help us in the management of patients? Why is plaque morphology so important? Watch numerous examples and get a systematic overview of what you should put into... - Lecture: [Stenosis: Morphology](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1058) (Duration: 00:26) - The first of three lectures will explain when you should suspect stenosis, how you can optimize your image so that you do not miss a soft plaque and how to use the most common methods to quantify stenosis based on morphologic criteria. - Lecture: [Stenosis: Hemodynamics](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1059) (Duration: 00:15) - We continue with the topic of carotid artery stenosis but now turn to the hemodynamic assessment using spectral Doppler. This lecture will help you to understand the hemodynamics of stenosis and what to measure. Experts in the field will share their experiences. - Lecture: [Stenosis: Doppler criteria + cases](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1060) (Duration: 00:38) - In the last of three lectures dealing with carotid artery stenosis, we discuss the hemodynamic parameters that we can use to determine the severity of carotid artery stenosis. This controversial topic will be thoroughly discussed and we will provide all pros- and cons. This... - Lecture: [Pathologies - Case Studies](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1061) (Duration: 00:25) - Here we put everything together and show you one case after the other so that you can get a better feeling for the scope of carotid artery pathologies. Mild stenosis, severe stenosis, occlusion. - Lecture: [Pathologies of the Vertebral Arteries](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1062) (Duration: 00:23) - The vertebral artery is often termed the "forgotten vessel". Not in our course! After we showed you how to image the vertebral arteries we will now cover topics such as hypoplasia, subclavian steal syndrome, stenosis, and even dissection of the vertebral arteries. - CME Quiz: CUMC - Pathologies in Carotid Ultrasound (CME: 3) ### Therapy This chapter provides you with all you need to know to manage your patients. Here we answer important questions such as: When should an intervention or surgical procedure be performed? Which medical treatments do we have, who should receive them, and how effective are they? How do you follow up on patients? And how should you assess patients after endarterectomy and stenting? - Chapter content: 4 lectures and 1 quizzes - Chapter CME credits that can be earned: 1 - Lecture: [Surgery and Stenting](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1063) (Duration: 00:34) - Endarterectomy and stenting have dramatically changed our approach to the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. In this lecture Afshin Assadian, a leading vascular surgeon explains when these techniques are indicated, how they are performed, and what their risks and... - Lecture: [Medical Therapy](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1170) (Duration: 00:10) - Risk reduction and medical therapy are crucial in patients with carotid artery stenosis. But which patients should receive which drugs? What is the “best medical therapy”? In this lecture, we will discuss risk reduction and the two main pillars of medical therapy: antiplatelet... - Lecture: [Ultrasound Follow-Up after Stents / Endarterectomy](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1064) (Duration: 00:11) - It is only a matter of time until you will encounter a patient who underwent endarterectomy or received a stent. What do you need to consider when performing an ultrasound scan and what are some of the complications of these procedures that you need to be aware of? Find the... - Lecture: [Neck pathologies](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1065) (Duration: 00:18) - Don't miss this lecture! While this course teaches you carotid ultrasound and obviously the main focus is carotid artery plaque and stenosis you should not miss other pathologies that you might come across while imaging the neck. Some of the topics we discuss: Dissection... - CME Quiz: CUMC - Therapy (CME: 1) ### Your standard Carotid Ultrasound Examination After learning so much in this course and getting so many different inputs, we thought it would be nice to provide you with a sort of standard operating procedure on how to conduct an ultrasound examination from start to finish. We will guide you step by step from imaging to documentation and discuss what an ideal workflow might look like. - Chapter content: 1 lectures and 1 quizzes - Chapter CME credits that can be earned: 0.5 - Lecture: [Standard Exam and Reporting](/course/carotid-ultrasound-masterclass#sg_course_lecture_1066) (Duration: 00:21) - This bonus lecture shows you step by step how a complete exam is performed and what you should document. We also explain how to optimize your workflow. - CME Quiz: CUMC - Standard Carotid US exam (CME: 0.5)