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Echolucency of carotid plaques and cerebrovascular events
Author(s) -
Aldemir Evren,
Apaydin Melda,
Varer Makbule,
Uluc Engin
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.21951
Subject(s) - echogenicity , medicine , stenosis , stroke (engine) , ultrasound , radiology , ultrasonography , cardiology , carotid arteries , mechanical engineering , engineering
Objectives. To assess the relationship between carotid plaque echogenicity and degree of stenosis with acute and chronic stroke. Methods. A retrospective study of cerebral MRI and carotid B‐mode and Doppler ultrasonography in 60 patients with stroke. Plaque echogenicity was graded as echolucent (1), predominantly echolucent (2), predominantly echogenic (3), or echogenic (4). Sonographic findings were compared between patients with acute (group 1) and chronic (group 2) stroke. Results. In group 1 (n = 39 patients), the carotid plaques were grade 1 in 21, grade 2 in 22, grade 3 in 9, and grade 4 in 4 carotid arteries. In group 2 (n = 21), the carotid plaques were grade 1 in 2, grade 2 in 8, grade 3 in 4, and grade 4 in 11 carotid arteries. Plaque echogenicity was lower in group 1 than in group 2 ( p < 0.05). Plaque echolucency was associated independently with acute stroke from the degree of stenosis. Conclusions. Patients with acute infarcts have predominantly echolucent plaques, regardless of the degree of stenosis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 40:399–404, 2012