A bruit is an audible sound produced by turbulent blood flow within a vessel, typically heard by a clinician using a stethoscope placed over the affected area. The most clinically significant bruits are those heard over the carotid arteries in the neck, which can indicate carotid stenosis and an increased risk of stroke. When a bruit is detected on physical examination, Doppler ultrasound is usually the next step, as it can directly visualize the vessel, identify and measure any plaque causing narrowing, and quantify the degree of stenosis using velocity measurements. Bruits can also be heard over arteriovenous fistulas, renal arteries, and other vessels with abnormal or turbulent flow.
Sonography Term