I do not want to **** off another doctor pointing out a mistake, but I think I'v got another one, tho this is less critical. So I'm hoping maybe someone here can explain, so I don't have to ask her.

I am being sent for an ultrasound to look for vertebro-basilar insufficiency & subclavian steal syndrome. Because I have "hardware" in my shoulder we can't do MRI/MRA or CTA scans, the metal creates too much interference for usable pictures.

The doctor's office scheduled the ultrasound for me, and the clerk said "carotid ultrasound". I called to check on the appointment, and they said "carotid ultrasound".

This is the wrong blood vessels, right? Going to be another useless test I go through, at least as far as the problem we're trying to find?

Maybe it's a general term for US of that whole area???
and not to only check the carotid artery??

Might be easiest to call the place that is doing the testing and ask what areas that carotid test entails?
and if it will help to verify or rule out vertebro-basilar insufficiency & subclavian steal syndrome"?

then you don't have to bother the doctor..unless you find out it is the wrong test.