| umls-concept:C0007273 | skos:definition | MSH: Pathological conditions involving the CAROTID ARTERIES, including the common, internal, and external carotid arteries. ATHEROSCLEROSIS and TRAUMA are relatively frequent causes of carotid artery pathology.,MEDLINEPLUS: <p>Your carotid arteries are two large blood vessels in your neck. They supply your brain with blood. If you have carotid artery disease, the arteries become narrow, usually because of <a href='http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/atherosclerosis.html'>atherosclerosis</a>. This is the buildup of <a href='http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cholesterol.html'>cholesterol</a> and other material in an artery. If a blood clot sticks in the narrowed arteries, blood can't reach your brain. This is one of the causes of <a href='http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stroke.html'>stroke</a>. </p><p>Carotid artery disease often does not cause symptoms, but there are tests that can tell your doctor if you have it. If the arteries are very narrow, you may need an operation called an endarterectomy to remove | lld:umls |
