Clinical Imaging of the High-Risk or Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque

Abstract

Abstract-The study of atherosclerotic disease during its natural history and after therapeutic intervention will enhance our understanding of disease progression and regression and aid in selecting appropriate treatments. Several invasive and noninvasive imaging techniques are available to assess atherosclerotic vessels. Most of the standard techniques identify luminal diameter, stenosis, wall thickness, and plaque volume; however, none can characterize plaque composition and therefore identify the high-risk plaques. We will present the different imaging modalities that have been used for the direct assessment of the carotid, aortic, and coronary atherosclerotic plaques. We will review in detail the use of high-resolution, multicontrast magnetic resonance for the noninvasive imaging of vulnerable plaques and the characterization of plaques in terms of their various components (ie, lipid, fibrous, calcium, or thrombus

Wash‐in kinetics for gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of carotid atheroma

“…ROIs were made as large as possible and drawn to outline a plaque component and not just the area of greatest SI. ROIs ranged in size from 2.7-32 mm 2 for the fibrous cap, and from 5.5-29 mm 2 for the lipid core. Plaque areas ranged from 0.249 -1.572 cm 2 (mean ϭ 0.667 cm 2 ).…”

“…Recent evidence, however, suggests that plaque composition, rather than its hemodynamic effect, is a better predictor of outcome (1). Specifically, a thin or ruptured fibrous cap and a large lipid core seem to relate to risk of stroke (2,3). Previous work has shown that MRI can characterize the composition of human atherosclerotic plaques both ex vivo (4 -6) and in vivo (7,8).…”

Carotid Atherosclerosis Detected by Ultrasonography: A National Cross‐Sectional Study

“…Atherosclerosis is a common systemic vascular condition that increases the risk of life‐threatening cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke 1, 2. Studies demonstrated that carotid atherosclerosis (CA) had a strong relationship with the new occurrence of ischemic stroke, particularly for asymptomatic individuals with other risk factors, including smoking, low physical activity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or hyperlipidemia 3, 4.…”

Air-coupled ultrasound stimulated optical vibrometry for resonance analysis of rubber tubes

“…Substituting equation (2) into equation (1) gives (3) where C ij (i, j=1, 2, 3) are the parameters from the L ij after they are operated with the x and θ.…”

“…Arteriosclerosis involves the buildup of plaque within the artery walls, which causes the thickening and hardening of arteries. Several imaging techniques, including x-ray angiography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), etc., are available for imaging atherosclerotic plaques [3]. Ultrasound sonography is unique in quick and efficient identification of stenosis in carotid or peripheral arteries.…”