[Histopathologic study of carotid artery plaques].
Twenty-six carotid plaques were obtained from endarterectomies in 25 cases and microscopically studied. Ulceration was observed in 11 of the 26 plaques (42%) and more frequently in the plaques from symptomatic cases (TIA, RIND or stroke) (56%) than from asymptomatic cases (13%). Although ulceration occurred more commonly as the degree of plaque stenosis increased, it was also observed in 4 plaques with relatively mild stenosis. The interesting finding in terms of ulcer formation was that 10 of the 11 plaques with ulceration showed intramural hemorrhage, which occurred in 13 of all plaques (50%). Hemorrhage occurred in connection with ulcer in 7 plaques and was exposed into the arterial lumen in 5 of these 7 plaques. Atheromatous debris was found within the ulcer in 4 other plaques with intramural hemorrhage. These results suggest that intraplaque hemorrhage plays an important role in ulceration, through which a clot or atheromatous debris may eventually cause an embolism.
Furui
T
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Aichi Medical University, Japan.
Nagasaka
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged