RESUMEN
AIM: To evaluate possibilities of routine X-ray methods for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis of carotid arteries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: At the initial stage of the study, 468 X-ray radiograms of the cervical spine with the detailed description of soft tissues and projections of the neck vessels were studied. The next stage included evaluation of 'screening' abilities of digital fluorography of lungs (886 X-ray radiograms were analyzed). The last stage is a current pilot project aimed to introduce opportunistic screening of atherosclerosis of carotid arteries using X-ray and ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland taking into account disease history collected with help of a special questionnaire and clinical examination. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The study shows a high specificity of the shadows in the projections of the neck vessels as a sign of atherocalcinosis. During mass examinations these X-ray findings are useful to identify patients who need duplex scanning and other high-tech methods.