Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2016
ReviewIncorporating Carotid Plaque Imaging into Routine Clinical Carotid Magnetic Resonance Angiography.
The incorporation of a short, easy-to-acquire and simple to read sequence to visualize the vessel wall and detect intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) is achievable now. Demonstration of IPH may be helpful in primary or secondary prevention of neuroischemic events, assessment prior to carotid intervention and the general definition of an individual's vascular phenotype. The addition of an IPH-detecting vessel wall sequence only adds 5 to 6 minutes to a standard carotid MRI examination making clinical translation feasible and achievable.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2016
Review Meta AnalysisClinical Perspective of Carotid Plaque Imaging.
At present, patients with carotid disease are selected for invasive recanalization therapies mainly based on the degree of luminal narrowing and the presence or absence of recent ischemic symptoms. A more sophisticated risk model takes into account other clinical variables, such as age, sex, and the type of recent symptoms, as well as presence of ulcerated plaque. A growing body of evidence shows that noninvasive imaging of the carotid plaque by various methods reliably identifies structural correlates of plaque vulnerability, which are associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular events.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2016
ReviewThe Use of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasonography for Imaging of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques: Current Evidence, Future Directions.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a rapidly evolving modality for imaging carotid artery disease and systemic atherosclerosis. CEUS coupled with diagnostic ultrasonography predicts the degree of carotid artery stenosis and is comparable with computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography. This article reviews the literature on the evolving role of CEUS for the identification and characterization of carotid plaques with an emphasis on detection of intra-plaque neovascularization and related high-risk morphologic features notably present in symptomatic patients. CEUS carotid imaging may play a prominent additive role in risk stratifying patients and serve as a powerful tool for monitoring therapeutic interventions.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2016
ReviewUtility of Combining PET and MR Imaging of Carotid Plaque.
By harnessing the versatility and soft tissue imaging capabilities of MR imaging alongside the unmatched sensitivity and biomolecular flexibility of PET, the potential to provide detailed multiparametric plaque characterization in the carotid arteries is clear. The ability to acquire simultaneous, and dynamic multimodal data is perhaps PET/MR's greatest strength that will be of major interest to researchers investigating carotid and coronary atherosclerosis alike. This review summarizes the current status of dedicated hybrid PET/MR imaging; to crystallize the rationale for and advantages of this technique with respect to carotid atherosclerosis; and to discuss current limitations, challenges, and future directions.