CT angiography and MR angiography in the evaluation of extracranial carotid vascular disease

CTA and MRA techniques likely will continue to increase in use in the evaluation of the extracranial cerebrovascular system. The increasing reliance on noninvasive tests mirrors an overall concern with the risks and costs of more invasive examinations. Given the rapid development of the computer technology, data acquisition, and reconstruction algorithms in the past few years, it is apparent that CTA and MRA also will continue to improve.