Identification of high-risk carotid artery stenosis: motion of intraplaque contents detected using B-mode ultrasonography

Abstract

The MIC is one of the findings of vulnerable plaques. The MIC is more useful in predicting the recurrence of TIAs or ischemic events in patients with symptomatic CA stenosis.

Carotid artery stenting for vulnerable plaques on MR angiography and ultrasonography: utility of dual protection and blood aspiration method

“…US findings have widely been used to characterize intraplaque components and depend on plaque echogenicity and shape 4 9 10. Although hypoechoic plaques on US are generally considered vulnerable, this finding may vary among sonographers 11 16.…”

“…On the other hand, mobile plaques are easily detected by routine US 10. Mobile plaque is characterized by a thin fibrous cap that easily ruptures and results in recurrent ischemic stroke during a short interval 9 10. Therefore, mobile plaque may be a sign of a high risk of ischemic complications during CAS.…”

“…When HIS in the ICA plaque was confirmed on preoperative TOF-MRA by two or more authors, the plaque was judged to be vulnerable12 and, when preoperative US of the ICA plaque showed a mobile component that was not synchronized with the heartbeat, the plaque was also judged to be vulnerable 9 10. Thus, ICA plaques with a mobile component on US and/or HIS on TOF-MRA were defined as vulnerable.…”

“…In US, mobile components and hypoechoic plaques reflect a vulnerable plaque 4 5 7 9 10. In particular, mobile components indicate thinning and rupture of the fibrous cap over the plaque, resulting in repeated ischemic stroke in a short interval 7 9 10. In MR plaque imaging, vulnerable plaques such as lipid and intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) tend to show hyperintensity 6 8 11.…”

An integrated system for the segmentation of atherosclerotic carotid plaque ultrasound video

“…The predictive ability to identify which patients will have a stroke is poor, where the current practice of assessing the risk of stroke relies on measuring the thickness of the cca wall [intima-media-thickness (IMT)] [9], [10] or the artery lumen stenosis by identifying the plaque borders in the carotid artery [6]. although the IMT and the degree of stenosis can reliably be delineated in still B-mode ultrasound images [1], [6], [9], [10], the moving borders of the atherosclerotic carotid plaque and the identification of the systolic and diastolic video states [7] may provide additional information of an individual's stroke risk, and treatment of asymptomatic patients may be improved [11].…”