title: Low-Grade Carotid Stenosis: Implications of MR Imaging.
abstract: Although treatment guidelines are well established for symptomatic patients with greater than 69% carotid stenosis on catheter angiography, optimal management of lower degrees of stenosis remain unclear. Vessel wall MR imaging of the carotid arteries has proved helpful in the evaluation of plaque burden and vulnerable plaque characteristics, and in stratifying risk in low-grade carotid stenosis. This article discusses the pathophysiology and imaging of atherosclerotic plaques resulting in low-grade carotid stenosis, and the corresponding stroke risk and association with plaque elsewhere in the cardiovascular system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology, University of Washington Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Box 357115, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: mmossab@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Mahmud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mossa-Basha
authors.affiliation: Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 367 East Park Building, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wasserman
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Carotid vessel wall imaging; Low-grade carotid stenosis; MR imaging; Stroke