title: Association between carotid plaque enhancement shown by multidetector CT angiography and histologically validated microvessel density.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carotid plaques analysed by MDCTA can show contrast enhancement. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between carotid plaque enhancement (CPE) and microvessel density.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained IRB approval. Twenty-nine consecutive (male, 20; median age, 63) symptomatic patients studied with 16-detector CT were prospectively analysed. Examinations were performed before and after intravenous contrast medium administration, and analysis of plaque enhancement was performed. Patients underwent "en bloc" carotid endarterectomy; histological sections were prepared and the presence of microvessels quantified. Logistic regression analysis as well as ROC curve and area under the curve was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant association between the degree of CPE and microvessel density (P = 0.009; rho = 0.553) was observed. The ROC curve analysis confirmed this association with an area under the curve of 0.906, 0.735, 0.644 and 0.546 for CPE of 10 HU, 15 HU, 20 HU and 25 HU respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the CPE and the degree of neovascularisation (P = 0.0003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this preliminary study suggest that CPE might be associated with the microvessel density. Histological analysis seems to demonstrate that the degree of intra-plaque neo-vascularisation is statistically associated with CPE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carotid artery plaque enhancement at CT is associated with microvessel density.                                                                                                                                                                       The degree of intra-plaque neo-vascularisation is statistically associated with carotid plaque enhancement.                                                                                                                                                                       Plaque enhancement at CT should be considered when assessing vulnerable plaques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria (A.O.U.), di Cagliari-Polo di Monserrato, s.s. 554, Monserrato, Cagliari, 09045, Italy. lucasaba@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.forename: Maria Letizia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montisci
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tamponi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanfilippo
authors.forename: Gavino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faa
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed