Special Communication

Patel M.R. , Sperms J.A. , Brindis R.G. ACCF proposed method for evaluating the appropriateness of cardiovascular imaging. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005; 46: 1606–13.

Fitch K. , Bernstein S.J. , Aguilar M.D. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User's Manual Arlington, VA: RAND, 2001.

Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories. The complete ICAVL standards for accreditation in noninvasive vascular testing. Parts I through VU. April 2010. Available at http://www.kavl.org/vascukr/standards/lAC_Vascular_Testing_Srandards.pdf. Accessed January 6, 2012.

Qureshi A.I. , Alexandrov A.V. , Tegeler C.H. Guidelines for screening of extracranial carotid artery disease: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Multidisciplinary Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Society of Neuroimaging; cosponsored by the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology. J Neuroimaging 2007; 17: 19–47.

Rodriguez G. , Delmonte M. , Vitali P. Duplex scanning of neck vessels: need for extending the consensus on indications. Neurol Sci 2002; 22: 437–41.

Brignole M. , Alboni P. , Benditt D. Task Force on Syncope, European Society of Cardiology. Part 2. Diagnostic tests and treatment: summary of recommendations. Europace 2001; 3: 261–8.

Brott T.G. , Halperin J.L. , Abbara S. 2011 ASA/ACCF/AHA/AANN/AANS/ACR/ASNR/CNS/SAIP/SCAI/SIR/SNIS/SVM/SVS guideline on the management of patients with extracranial carotid and vertebral artery disease. A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Stroke Association, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American College of Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Society of Atherosclerosis Imaging and Prevention, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, Society for Vascular Medicine, and Society for Vascular Surgery, J Am Coll Cardiol 2011; 57: el6–94.

Greenland P. , Alpert J.S. , Beller GA 2010 ACCF/AHA guideline for assessment of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010; 56: eSO–103.

Nambi V. , Chambless L. , Folsom A.R. Carotid intima-media thickness and presence or absence of plaque improves prediction of coronary heart disease risk: the ARJC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities) study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010; 55: 1600–7.

Goessens B.M. , Visseren F.L. , Kappelle L.J. Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and the risk of new vascular events in patients with manifest arterial disease: the SMART study. Stroke 2007; 38: 1470–5.

O'Leary D.H. , Polak JF , Kronmal R.A. Cardiovascular Health Study Collaborative Research Group. Carotid-artery intima and media thickness as a risk factor for myocardial infarction and stroke in older adults. N Engl J Med 1999; 340: 14–22.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm: recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med 2005; 142: 198–202.

Chaikof E.L. , Brewster D.C. , Dalman R.L. The care of patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm: the Society for Vascular Surgery practice guidelines. J Vase Surg 2009; 50 Suppl: S2–49.

Hirsch A.T. , Haskal Z.J. , Hertzer N.R. ACC/AHA 2005 practice guidelines for the management of patients with peripheral arterial disease (lower extremity, renal, mesenteric, and abdominal aortic): a collaborative report from the American Association for Vascular Surgery/Society for Vascular Surgery, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology, Society of Interventional Radiology, and the ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease). J Am Coll Cardiol 2006; 47: 1239–312.

Beckman J.A. , Jaff M.R. , Creager M.A. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement on screening for peripheral arterial disease: more harm than benefit? Circulation 2006; 114: 861–6.

Douglas P.S. , Garcia M.J. , Haines D.E. ACCF/ASE/AHA/ASNC/HFSA/HRS/SCAI/SCCM/SCCT/SCMR 2011 appropriate use criteria for echocardiography: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Appropriate Use Criteria Task Force, American Society of Echocardiography, American Heart Association, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America, Heart Rhythm Society, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. J Am Coll Cardiol 2011; 57: 1126–66.