The Journal of family practice
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Review
Do carotid artery calcifications seen on radiographs predict stenosis in asymptomatic adults?
NOT VERY WELL. IN ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS, CAROTID ARTERY CALCIFICATION SEEN ON RADIOGRAPH HAS A POSITIVE PREDICTIVE VALUE OF 70% AND A NEGATIVE PREDICTIVE VALUE OF 75% FOR CAROTID ARTERY STENOSIS (STRENGTH OF RECOMMENDATION [SOR]: B, SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES WITH HETEROGENEOUS RESULTS AND A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY). CAROTID CALCIFICATIONS ON RADIOGRAPHS MAY BE MORE PREDICTIVE OF CAROTID STENOSIS IN PEOPLE WITH ATHEROSCLEROTIC RISK FACTORS (SOR: C, CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY). HARMS OUTWEIGH BENEFITS IN SCREENING FOR CAROTID ARTERY STENOSIS IN ASYMPTOMATIC ADULTS (SOR: B, MULTIPLE COHORT STUDIES); THEREFORE, INCIDENTAL RADIOGRAPHIC CAROTID ARTERY CALCIFICATIONS IN ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS SHOULD NOT PROMPT FURTHER TESTING.
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Practice Guideline
Updated USPSTF screening guidelines may reduce lung cancer deaths.
By nearly doubling the number of patients eligible for screening, as many as 60,000 US lives may be saved-but concerns may limit acceptance.
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► Fatigue ► Unintentional weight loss ► Anemia.
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Case Reports
78-year-old man • tail bone pain • unintended weight loss • history of diabetes and hypertension • Dx?
► Tail bone pain ► Unintended weight loss ► History of diabetes and hypertension.
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Using a checklist to establish patients' level of dependence and combining behavioral therapy with nicotine replacement products can help users to quit.