Echolucency of carotid plaques and cerebrovascular events.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between carotid plaque echogenicity and degree of stenosis with acute and chronic stroke.


METHODS
A retrospective study of cerebral MRI and carotid B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography in 60 patients with stroke. Plaque echogenicity was graded as echolucent (1), predominantly echolucent (2), predominantly echogenic (3), or echogenic (4). Sonographic findings were compared between patients with acute (group 1) and chronic (group 2) stroke.


RESULTS
In group 1 (n = 39 patients), the carotid plaques were grade 1 in 21, grade 2 in 22, grade 3 in 9, and grade 4 in 4 carotid arteries. In group 2 (n = 21), the carotid plaques were grade 1 in 2, grade 2 in 8, grade 3 in 4, and grade 4 in 11 carotid arteries. Plaque echogenicity was lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.05). Plaque echolucency was associated independently with acute stroke from the degree of stenosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with acute infarcts have predominantly echolucent plaques, regardless of the degree of stenosis.
Radiology Clinic, Trabzon Vakfıkebir Health Ministry Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey.
Evren
E
Aldemir
Melda
M
Apaydin
Makbule
M
Varer
Engin
E
Uluc
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler