Correlation between echo morphological carotid plaque characteristics and neurological symptoms

Abstract

A group of 72 patients with 111 asymptomatic carotid stenoses (ACS), mean age 65.42 ± 9.21 and of 36 patients with 58 symptomatic carotid stenoses (SKS), mean age 67.63 ± 8.79 were analyzed prospectively during a three-years follow-up period. All patients underwent color duplex scan sonography (CDS), carotid arteriography, computed tomography scan (CT), and neurological examination. The aim of the study was to analyze correlation between echo plaque morphology (degree and plaque quality) and neurological symptoms and objective neurological disorders, as well as value of CDS method to appreciate carotid stenosis characteristics. The results analysis showed significantly higher ACS in the group of 30-49% stenoses, but significantly higher SCS in the group of 70-89% and more than 90% stenoses. Fibrous plaque was more frequent in the ACS group, while exulceration and mix plaque were more frequent in the SCS group. Significantly higher number of clinical CVI cases, deaths, and ischemic lesion registered during CT were reported in the SCS group than in the ACS group. CDS showed 92% sensitivity, 90% specificity, and 92% diagnostic accuracy in the assessment of stenosis growth. Morphological characteristics of carotid plaques, significantly correlated with neurological disorders, were stenoses more than 70%, plaque exulceration, mix plaque, and plaque stenoses more than 50%.

Keywords

• carotid stenosis
• cerebrovascular disorders
• neurologic manifestations
• ultrasonography
• doppler
• duplex
• angiography
• tomography
• x-ray computed
• sensitivity and specificity