Bruit: Is it a sign of something serious?

A bruit (bru-we) is an abnormal and often harsh sound heard over a blood vessel, usually an artery, with a stethoscope. It is synchronous with your heartbeat.

This sound is caused by turbulent blood flow, such as that due to irregularities in the wall of the blood vessel or to an abnormal connection (fistula) between an artery and vein. It is often a sign of an underlying problem — sometimes serious. For example, a bruit heard over the thyroid may be due to excess blood flow caused by Graves' disease. Heard over the carotid artery, a bruit may indicate fatty buildup (atherosclerosis).

Sometimes a bruit is only temporary and goes away on its own. Treatment of the underlying cause, when possible, may make the bruit go away.