title: Ultrasonography of carotid plaque for the prevention of stroke.
abstract: A carotid ultrasonography is a non-invasive technique that provides an accurate and reliable characterization of the broad spectrum of carotid arteriosclerosis, from the intima-media thickness to the atherosclerotic plaque. Carotid ultrasonography has become a useful tool for identifying patients at high risk of stroke and selecting those who can benefit most from revascularization therapies such as carotid endarterectomy and stenting. In addition to the degree of stenosis, plaque echomorphology has emerged in recent years as an important contributory factor to stroke risk. Changes in plaque echogenicity, as measured by the quantitative computer-assisted ultrasonography index, could be a marker of plaque instability as well as an indicator of plaque remodeling, thereby providing the means for monitoring anti-atherosclerosis drugs such as statins.
authors: Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, IdiPAZ Health Research Institute, La Paz University Hospital, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Martinez-Sanchez
authors: Andrei V
authors: AV
authors: Alexandrov
mesh_terms: D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000379:methods; D018579:Patient Selection; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*