Is high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography better for prediction of clinical events induced by carotid vulnerable lesions?
OBJECTIVE
To find a better way to predict the clinical events caused by carotid vulnerable lesions via comparison study on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US).


METHODS
Twenty-seven symptomatic stroke patients were recruited, all of which were given both high-resolution MRI and US at bilateral carotids. Respective correlations of high-resolution MRI and US outcomes with clinical events were performed and the lesion numbers identified by high-resolution MRI and US were statistically analysed.


RESULTS
Six carotid arteries in six patients were excluded because of uninterpretable high-resolution MRI findings or patients' intolerance. In the remaining 48 carotids analysed, the number of carotid with vulnerable/stable lesion was 17/31 by high-resolution MRI and 25/23 by US, respectively. Contingency coefficient was 0.40 between vulnerable lesion by high-resolution MRI and clinical event (p=0.004), and 0.19 (p=0.221) by US and clinical event, respectively. The difference of detected lesion numbers between high-resolution MRI and US was statistically significant p=0.039) through matched chi-square test.


CONCLUSIONS
High-resolution MRI may be a better way than US in predicting the clinical events caused by carotid vulnerable lesions.
Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
Haiqiang
H
Qin
Binbin
B
Sui
Wei
W
Zhang
Xingquan
X
Zhao
Guihong
G
Wang
Yong
Y
Zhou
Peiyi
P
Gao
Yongjun
Y
Wang
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000592:standards; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards