title: Vulnerable atherosclerotic carotid plaque evaluation by ultrasound, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging: an overview.
abstract: Ischemic syndromes associated with carotid atherosclerotic disease are often related to plaque rupture. The benefit of endarterectomy for high-grade carotid stenosis in symptomatic patients has been established. However, in asymptomatic patients, the benefit of endarterectomy remains equivocal. Current research seeks to risk stratify asymptomatic patients by characterizing vulnerable, rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques. Plaque composition, biology, and biomechanics are studied by noninvasive imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound, and ultrasound elastography. These techniques are at a developmental stage and have yet to be used in clinical practice. This review will describe noninvasive techniques in ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography imaging modalities used to characterize atherosclerotic plaque, and will discuss their potential clinical applications, benefits, and drawbacks.
authors.affiliation: Département de Radiologie, Radio-Oncologie et Médecine Nucléaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada; Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Cyrille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naim
authors.affiliation: Département de Radiologie, Radio-Oncologie et Médecine Nucléaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Douziech
authors.affiliation: Département de Radiologie, Radio-Oncologie et Médecine Nucléaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Therasse
authors.affiliation: Département de Radiologie, Radio-Oncologie et Médecine Nucléaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Robillard
authors.affiliation: Département de Radiologie, Radio-Oncologie et Médecine Nucléaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Giroux
authors.affiliation: Département de Radiologie, Radio-Oncologie et Médecine Nucléaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.affiliation: Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada; Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cloutier
authors.affiliation: Département de Radiologie, Radio-Oncologie et Médecine Nucléaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada; Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: gilles.soulez.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soulez
mesh_terms: D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Atherosclerotic plaque; Carotid artery plaque; Magnetic resonance imaging; Multidetector computed tomography angiography; Noninvasive vascular elastography; Ultrasound; Vulnerable plaque