Research progress of noninvasive high - resolution magnetic resonance imaging in carotid atherosclerotic plaque

Abstract

Carotid atherosclerotic stenosis is closely related to recurrent ischemic stroke. Currently, therapies for carotid artery stenosis are mainly intensive medication or surgery, including carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The prevention of stroke lies in identifying risk factors for carotid artery stenosis, screening patients with high risk of recurrent stroke, so as to benefit from medication or surgery. However, therapeutic schedule is formulated only according to the degrees of carotid artery stenosis, and there lacks of individualized treatment. Recently, new imaging modalities, such as noninvasive high.resolution MRI (HRMRI) could detect the vulnerability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque. Compared with the degree of carotid artery stenosis measured by conventional DSA, noninvasive HRMRI can precisely predict the risk of ipsilateral stroke according to plaque morphology, so as to guide individualized treatment. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.05.012

Keywords

• Carotid stenosis
• Atherosclerosis
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Review