Carotid artery plaque classification: does contrast enhancement play a significant role?

AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
L SabaR Montisci

Abstract

Previous articles have demonstrated that carotid artery plaques may have enhancement after administration of contrast material. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of enhancement in carotid artery classification. Three hundred eighty consecutive patients (235 men, 145 women; median age 64, age range 32-87 years) were analyzed using a multidetector row CT scanner. Examinations were performed before and after CM administration. Carotid artery plaques with a attenuation value <60 HU were considered fatty, those from 60-130 HU were considered mixed, and those >130 HU were considered calcified. χ(2) tests, Student t tests, and Cohen analyses were performed. Before CM administration, we observed 226 calcified, 175 mixed, and 206 fatty plaques; after CM administration, 229 calcified, 213 mixed, and 165 fatty plaques were observed. A statistically significant difference between these 2 groups was observed (P = .016). We found that 19.9% of fatty plaques become mixed (n = 41), whereas 1.7% of the mixed plaques become calcified (n = 3). All calcified plaques remained in the same category. Fatty plaques that changed type showed a larger enhancement compared with those that remained in the same class (P = .001). Cohen anal...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 2, 2014·Neurosurgical Focus·Elizabeth TongMax Wintermark
Aug 6, 2013·Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology·Luca SabaMax Wintermark
Dec 24, 2013·Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal = Journal L'Association Canadienne Des Radiologistes·Cyrille NaimGilles Soulez
Nov 28, 2015·Neuroimaging Clinics of North America·Mahmud Mossa-Basha, Bruce A Wasserman
Nov 28, 2015·Neuroimaging Clinics of North America·Anna Bayer-KarpinskaTobias Saam
Jan 13, 2018·AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology·L SabaUNKNOWN Vessel Wall Imaging Study Group of the American Society of Neuroradiology
Dec 2, 2017·AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology·L SabaG Faa

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