TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection of unstable carotid artery stenosis using MRI
AU - Esposito, L.
AU - Sievers, M.
AU - Sander, D.
AU - Heider, P.
AU - Wolf, O.
AU - Greil, O.
AU - Zimmer, C.
AU - Poppert, H.
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Carotid artery stenosis
KW - Magnetic resonance imaging
KW - Plaque
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=37749016409&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00415-007-0634-4
DO - 10.1007/s00415-007-0634-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 17994312
AN - SCOPUS:37749016409
SN - 0340-5354
VL - 254
SP - 1714
EP - 1722
JO - Journal of Neurology
JF - Journal of Neurology
IS - 12
ER -