Major carotid plaque surface irregularities correlate with neurologic symptoms

Abstract

Surface irregularities were revealed by means of submillimeter resolution of the carotid plaques with MRI to be common, but only the presence of major irregularities correlated with the patient having TIA or stroke. Lumen shape and plaque location did not appear to predict stroke risk, but may effect imaging accuracy in determining the degree of stenosis. These data further define the relationship of plaque irregularity and cerebrovascular symptoms caused by atheroemboli.

Comparison of Carotid Plaque Ulcer Detection Using Contrast-Enhanced and Time-of-Flight MRA Techniques

“…An ulcer was defined as a niche in the plaque surface measuring Ն2 mm in depth. [22][23][24] CE-MRA and TOF-MRA images were evaluated using short-and long-axis reconstructions of each 3D MRA dataset, along with the MIP images. The black-blood MR images, acquired to achieve a comprehensive characterization of the vessel wall, were used here to identify ulcers in conjunction with the MRA findings.…”

Clinical Risk Factors and CT Imaging Features of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques as Predictors of New Incident Carotid Ischemic Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study

“…A number of carotid plaque morphologic features have been suggested as potential markers of the "vulnerable plaque" and are possibly associated with an increased risk of stroke, the most studied of which being the CCA intima-media thickness. 5,6,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] In addition, embolic phenomena have been reported as being associated with thinning and subsequent ulceration of the fibrous cap on the surface of the atherosclerotic plaque, [20][21][22][23][24] resulting in release into the parent vessel of necrotic lipoid debris from the plaque substance, especially in the case of a high plaque lipid content. 25,26 On the contrary, carotid plaque calcifications appear to be protective.…”

3D Quantitative Evaluation of Atherosclerotic Plaque Based on Rotational Angiography

“…Regions of irregular lumen in angiographic images, such as local narrowing and lack of contrast ( Fig 1A), are an important indication of vascular diseases. 2,5 Our technique to compute the plaque is the following: First denote these geo-metric changes with numeric indices and then extract curvature parameters to find the smooth-vessel wall. In the PR model, the vessel geometry was first transformed into a mathematic expression (Appendix A) based on the MSR for shapes (Fig 1).…”

“…2,[5][6][7][8] Advances in imaging technology have made it possible to observe the 3D geometric changes of blood vessels and evaluate the degree of vessel narrowing in patients by using techniques such as MR imaging and CT. 6,7,9,10 Researchers have also presented various techniques and computational models to assess irregular vascular geometry and to estimate the characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque. 5,7,[11][12][13] While plaque volume has been reported as an important tool for patient management and for evaluating new therapies, [14][15][16] methods to evaluate this index are limited. 14,15,17,18 Because conventional angiography remains the criterion standard for the diagnosis of vascular diseases, 19,20 techniques that can quantify plaque by using conventional angiography data can be useful.…”