A development of atheromatous plaque is restricted by characteristic arterial wall structure at the carotid bifurcation.
BACKGROUND
It is said atheromatous plaque is located very focally, but there have been few reports regarding this matter. Various aspects of the pathogenesis of the development of atheromatous plaque at the carotid bifurcation have previously been discussed. We have noted the correlation of plaque localization with characteristics of the cervical carotid artery wall.


METHODS
Morphological and histopathologic changes in the carotid bifurcation were examined in 72 cadaver cases with or without atheromatous plaque. We determined the level at which the wall structure changed to muscular artery from elastic artery and analyzed its influence on the development of atheromatous plaque.


RESULTS
Atheromatous plaques at the distal site of the ICA extended within 0 to 37 mm from the carotid bifurcation. The proximal side of the CCA more than 5 mm away from the bifurcation was elastic artery, whereas the distal side of the ICA more than 15 mm from the bifurcation was muscular artery. The area of the carotid bifurcation between elastic artery and muscular artery was a transitional zone. Approximately 80% of them were located within 15 mm, and these areas were coincident with the transitional zone.


CONCLUSIONS
Most atheromatous plaque was located in the transitional zone. The arterial wall structure is related to the development of atheromatous plaque at the cervical carotid bifurcation.
Hori
Emiko
E
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan, 930-0194.
Hayashi
Nakamasa
N
Hamada
Hideo
H
Masuoka
Toru
T
Kuwayama
Naoya
N
Hirashima
Yutaka
Y
Origasa
Hideki
H
Ohtani
Osamu
O
Endo
Shunro
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002102:Cadaver; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004210:Dissection; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*