Postoperative Increase in Cerebral White Matter Fractional Anisotropy on Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Associated With Cognitive Improvement After Uncomplicated Carotid Endarterectomy

Abstract

Postoperative increase in cerebral white matter FA on DTI is associated with cognitive improvement after uncomplicated CEA.

White Matter Diffusion Abnormalities in Carotid Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“…The 6 studies included were prospective ( n = 4) and retrospective ( n = 2) studies with MRI of the brain performed on either 1.5T ( n = 1) or 3T scanners ( n = 5) . A total of 230 patients were included.…”

Intervention versus Aggressive Medical Therapy for Cognition in Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis

“…A previous uncontrolled case series of uncomplicated carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic (n ϭ 50) and asymptomatic (n ϭ 30) patients with Ͼ70% carotid stenosis showed an increase of the hemispheric mean FA ipsilateral to the surgery site after 1 month in association with posttreatment cognitive improvement. 33 In contrast, others reported postoperative memory decline in a portion of patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid stenosis 1 month after undergoing carotid endarterectomy or CAS.…”

Carotid stenting for unilateral stenosis can increase contralateral hemispheric cerebral blood flow

“…Sato et al 11 studied cognitive function and diffusion-tensor MRI (DTI) images before and after carotid endarterectomy for unilateral stenosis. From DTI images, they calculated the fractional anisotropy value of white matter to observe recovery from demyelination caused by chronic cerebral ischemia.…”