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Title:

Detection of unstable carotid artery stenosis using MRI.

Document type:
Journal Article; Article
Author(s):
Esposito, L; Sievers, M; Sander, D; Heider, P; Wolf, O; Greil, O; Zimmer, C; Poppert, H
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE : Carotid artery stenosis can be classified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as lesion types I-VIII according to a modified histological scheme based on American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. Lesion types IV-V and VI are regarded as high-risk plaques.We aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of this classification for identifying unstable plaques. METHODS : Eighty-five patients (29 female) with severe carotid artery stenosis (diagnosed by Doppler and duplex ultrasonography) were imaged using a 1.5 T scanner with bilateral phased-array carotid coils. T1-, T2-, time-offlight (TOF) and proton-density (PD)-weighted studies were obtained. The carotid plaques were classified as lesion types III-VIII according to the MRI-modified AHA criteria. RESULTS : Thirty-five patients presented with a recently symptomatic stenosis; 50 patients were asymptomatic. Lesion types IV-V (51.4 % vs. 22 %) and VI (20 % vs. 4%; P < 0.0001) were found significantly more often in symptomatic patients compared to those without a history of cerebral ischemia. CONCLUSIONS : The distribution of lesion types differs significantly between symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. High-risk lesion types IV-V and VI were overrepresented in recently symptomatic patients. MRI according to the modified AHA-criteria may be a suitable tool for detection of unstable carotid lesions.
Journal title abbreviation:
J Neurol
Year:
2007
Journal volume:
254
Journal issue:
12
Pages contribution:
1714-22
Language:
eng
Fulltext / DOI:
doi:10.1007/s00415-007-0634-4
Pubmed ID:
http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17994312
Print-ISSN:
0340-5354
TUM Institution:
Fachgebiet Neuroradiologie (Prof. Zimmer); Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik
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