Document Detail


Hyperintense carotid plaque on T(1)-weighted turbo-field echo MRI in symptomatic patients with low-grade carotid stenosis and carotid occlusion.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20588016     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: In addition to stenosis grading, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may provide valuable information about plaque 'status', e.g. hyperintense vulnerable carotid plaque, associated with higher morbidity and mortality. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence, clinical and radiological correlates of hyperintense carotid plaques on T(1)-weighted turbo-field echo (T(1)w-TFE) MRI in patients with ischemic symptoms.
METHODS: A total of 153 patients presenting with transient ischemic attack or ischemic infarct, studied with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA), were retrospectively examined. Stenosis grade was obtained from CEMRA images, presence or absence of hyperintense carotid plaque from T(1)w-TFE MRI. Stenosis grade and baseline characteristics were compared between patients with and without a hyperintense plaque.
RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (18%) showed one or more hyperintense internal carotid (ICA) plaques. Hyperintense plaques were found in patients with <50% stenosis (6 of 158 ICAs), 50-70% stenosis (4 of 11), >70% stenosis (14 of 74) and carotid occlusion (4 of 28). Presence of hyperintense plaque was associated with older age (70 vs. 62 years; p < 0.05), higher prevalence of cardiac disease (61 vs. 28%; p < 0.01), ischemic infarct as presenting symptom (37 vs. 14%; p < 0.01), ischemic cerebral lesions on MRI (63 vs. 32%; p < 0.01), and the ICA on the patients' symptomatic side (70 vs. 42%; p < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: More than one third of patients with 50-70% stenosis present with a hyperintense plaque. This subgroup of patients could in the future possibly benefit from more aggressive medicinal therapy or revascularization.
Authors:
Anja G van der Kolk; Gert J de Borst; Anne G den Hartog; M Eline Kooi; Willem P T M Mali; Jeroen Hendrikse
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2010-06-30
Journal Detail:
Title:  Cerebrovascular diseases (Basel, Switzerland)     Volume:  30     ISSN:  1421-9786     ISO Abbreviation:  Cerebrovasc. Dis.     Publication Date:  2010 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-09     Completed Date:  2010-12-16     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9100851     Medline TA:  Cerebrovasc Dis     Country:  Switzerland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  221-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. A.G.vanderKolk @ umcutrecht.nl
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Carotid Arteries / radiography,  ultrasonography
Carotid Artery Diseases / epidemiology,  radiography,  ultrasonography*
Carotid Stenosis / epidemiology,  radiography,  ultrasonography*
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Angiography
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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