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Background Carotid intima-media thickness ( IMT) and plaque are recognized markers of increased risk for cerebrovascular events. Accurate visualization of the IMT and plaques is dependent upon image quality. Ultrasound contrast agents improve image quality during echocardiography-this study assessed whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound ( CEUS) improves carotid IMT visualization and plaque detection in an asymptomatic population. Methods & Results Individuals free from known cardiovascular disease, enrolled in a community study, underwent B-mode and CEUS carotid imaging. Each carotid artery was divided into 10 segments (far and near walls of the proximal, mid and distal segments of the common carotid artery, the carotid bulb, and internal carotid artery). Visualization of the IMT complex and plaque assessments was made during both B-mode and CEUS imaging for all enrolled subjects, a total of 175 individuals (mean age 65±9 years). Visualization of the IMT was significantly improved during CEUS compared with B-mode imaging, in both near and far walls of the carotid arteries (% IMT visualization during B-mode vs CEUS imaging: 61% vs 94% and 66% vs 95% for right and left carotid arteries, respectively, P<.001 for both). Additionally, a greater number of plaques were detected during CEUS imaging compared with B-mode imaging (367 plaques vs 350 plaques, P=.02). Conclusion Contrast-enhanced ultrasound improves visualization of the intima-media complex, in both near and far walls, of the common and internal carotid arteries and permits greater detection of carotid plaques. Further studies are required to determine whether there is incremental clinical and prognostic benefit related to superior plaque detection by CEUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We propose a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging protocol for the characterization of carotid web morphology, composition, and vessel wall dynamics. The purpose of this case series was to determine the feasibility of imaging carotid webs with MR imaging. Methods: Five patients diagnosed with carotid web on CT angiography were recruited to undergo a 30-min MR imaging session. MR angiography (MRA) images of the carotid artery bifurcation were acquired. Multi-contrast fast spin echo (FSE) images were acquired axially about the level of the carotid web. Two types of cardiac phase resolved sequences (cineFSE and cine phase contrast) were acquired to visualize the elasticity of the vessel wall affected by the web. Results: Carotid webs were identified on MRA in 5/5 (100%) patients. Multi-contrast FSE revealed vessel wall thickening and cineFSE demonstrated regional changes in distensibility surrounding the webs in these patients. Conclusion: Our MR imaging protocol enables an in-depth evaluation of patients with carotid webs: morphology (by MRA), composition (by multi-contrast FSE), and wall dynamics (by cineFSE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aimed to explore whether GSM based on 3D-ultrasound could predict rupture of carotid plaques and to quantitatively evaluate the vulnerability of carotid plaques. Materials and Methods: 22 Patients with carotid plaques enrolled received 3D-US and 3.0T MRI examinations with intervals less than 48h. Images from two modalities were compared plane by plane. Based on the MRI analysis of plaques tissue compositions, images were divided into 4 groups: fibrous group, lipid core group, calcification group and hybrid group. GSM differences among groups were analyzed and 95% CI was calculated. Based on CAS(carotid atherosclerosis score)system, MRI images were divided into low risk group, medium-low risk group, medium-high risk group and high risk group. GSM differences were compared among groups and 95% CI was calculated. The correlation between GSM and LRNC% (lipid-rich necrotic core%) was analyzed in medium-high risk group and high risk group. Coefficient of variation(CoV) was used to compare the reproducibility of GSM in calcification group and lipid core group. Results: A total of 164 images were matched between 3D-US and MRI. In the classification of plaque tissue composition, GSM was the highest in calcification group (n=29, 95%CI: 57.28-70.38) with a significant difference from other groups, whereas the lowest in lipid core group (n=78, 95% CI:41.79-49.36), but with no significance compared with the fibrous group and hybrid group. In CAS system, GSM was the lowest in high risk group (n=19, 95% CI: 26.44-36.56) and there were significant differences among each group (p<0.05). In high risk group and medium-high risk group, GSM was negatively correlated with lipid core ratio (r=-0.46, p=0.003). CoV of GSM in the calcification group(10.87%) was better than in lipid core group(13.02%), both of them were acceptable. Conclusion: GSM obtained by 3D-US VPQ could evaluate the plaque vulnerability and be served as a new promising method to predict plaque rupture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathophysiology of ischemic leukoaraiosis (ILA) is unknown. It was recently found that ILA patients have increased aortic stiffness. Carotid stiffness is a more specific parameter and could have value as a non-invasive diagnostic value for ILA. Therefore, using color-coded duplex sonography, we compared local carotid stiffness parameters of 59 patients with ILA with those of 45 well-matched controls. The diagnosis of ILA was based on exclusion of other causes of white matter changes seen on magnetic resonance imaging. Pulse wave velocity β (PWVβ, m/s), pressure–strain elasticity modulus ( E p , kPa), β index and augmentation index ( A ix , %) values were higher and arterial compliance (AC, mm 2 /kPa) values were lower in the ILA group; however, only E p and PWVβ reached statistical significance ( p ≤ 0.05). β, E p and PWVβ exhibited an increasing trend with higher Fazekas score, though only E p reached significance ( p = 0.05). The main conclusion was that E p and PWVβ could have a diagnostic role in patients with ILA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic carotidynia is a syndrome characterized by pain and tenderness over the carotid artery without an associated structural luminal abnormality. Controversy exists over whether this is a distinct disease entity or merely a symptom attributable to other causes of neck pain, such as carotid dissection or vasculitis. A 50-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset right neck pain. Imaging studies demonstrated transmural inflammation of the proximal internal carotid artery, without evidence of intraluminal pathology. The patient was placed on low-dose aspirin and ibuprofen. Her symptoms resolved within a week. At 3-month follow-up, her carotid artery appeared normal on duplex ultrasonography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Color flow imaging and pulsed wave (PW) Doppler are important diagnostic tools in the examination of patients with carotid artery disease. However, measurement of the true peak systolic velocity is dependent on sample volume placement and the operator's ability to provide an educated guess of the flow direction. Using plane wave transmissions and a duplex imaging scheme, we present an all-in-one modality that provides both vector velocity and spectral Doppler imaging from one acquisition, in addition to separate B-mode images of sufficient quality. The vector Doppler information was used to provide automatically calibrated (angle-corrected) PW Doppler spectra at every image point. It was demonstrated that the combined information can be used to generate spatial maps of the peak systolic velocity, highlighting regions of high velocity and the extent of the stenotic region, which could be used to automate work flow as well as improve the accuracy of measurement of true peak systolic velocity. The modality was tested in a small group (N = 12) of patients with carotid artery disease. PW Doppler, vector velocity and B-mode images could successfully be obtained from a single recording for all patients with a body mass index ranging from 21 to 31 and a carotid depth ranging from 16 to 28 mm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carotid artery diseases are defined as the narrowing or the blockage of the carotid arteries. These two conditions are called carotid artery stenosis or occlusion respectively. Stenosis and occlusion are usually caused by cholesterol deposits and fatty substances which are called plaque. In addition, they represent significant causes of strokes. Thus, they should be a part of regular physical examinations. An important and preliminary diagnosis is to listen to the arteries in the neck using a stethoscope or a Doppler ultrasound (US) device. However, it is sometimes very difficult for a non-professional physician to differentiate between a normal and an abnormal sound due to blood flow blockage. This paper presents a low-cost efficient method that can be used in the automatic screening of carotid artery diseases, especially in areas with high population. Doppler US signals are preprocessed for noise elimination. Then, some features for normal, stenosis and occlusion signals are extracted from the frequency domain of these signals using their spectrograms. A multi-layer feed forward neural-network (MLFFNN) and a k-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers were used to automatically diagnose the input signals. The approach is applied to 72 samples divided into three equal sets which represent the three main classes to be identified, i.e., normal, stenosis and occlusion patterns. We used in the training phase 75% of each set and the rest was used in the test phase. Experimental results show the simplicity and efficiency of the presented approach for automatic diagnosis of carotid artery diseases. The maximum obtained classification accuracies are 91.67%, 100%, and 95.89% for the normal, stenosis and occlusion patterns respectively when the MLFFNN classifier is used. In comparison with similar approaches, the proposed approach is less complex, hence runs faster which suggests its suitability as an efficient screening method for the detection of carotid artery diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Data is scarce on prevalence of extracranial carotid atherosclerosis (ECA) in strokes <50 years and its association with lifestyle factors. Objective: Study role of (a) ECA in non-cardio-embolic anterior circulation young strokes, and (b) smoking and alcohol in ECA. Materials and Methods: Cardiovascular risk factors and evidence of ECA on carotid doppler ultrasound (CDUS) was evaluated in an one-year preliminary cross-sectional study of consecutive strokes between 20 years and 49 years. Females were excluded. Results: There were 46 male strokes (mean age 38.26 yrs), 17.39% had hypertension, 2.23% had coronary artery disease; none was diabetic. Tobacco users and alcohol consumers were 24/46 (52.17%) cases each. ECA was found in 14/46 (30.44%) cases. Seven of these 14 (50%) i.e., 7/46 cases (15.21%) had carotid occlusion, four had <50%, three had >70% stenosis. 'Smoking and smokeless tobacco use' was found in 71.42% (10/14) symptomatic carotid lesions compared to 43.75% (14/32) strokes without carotid lesions. Prevalence odds ratio for tobacco use and ECA was 3.21 (95% CI: 0.83-12.44) while that of alcohol and ECA was 1.33 (95% CI: 0.38-4.72). Conclusion: Prevalence of ECA in strokes <50 years was high due to lifestyle factors which predispose to atherosclerosis at younger age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common causes of pseudoaneurysms of internal carotid artery (ICA) in the neck are penetrating trauma, head and neck surgeries, carotid endarterectomies, infiltrating metastatic lymph nodes and neoplasms. We report a young male patient who presented with a swelling in left upper neck diagnosed as carotid body tumor with ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Subadventitial excision of the tumor was done. The patient developed dense right hemiplegia in the immediate postoperative period. Doppler study of neck revealed left ICA dissection with partial thrombosis of the lumen. Computed tomography of the brain revealed nonhemorrhagic left capsuloganglionic infarct and he was managed conservatively with heparin. Follow-up Doppler study done 2 weeks later revealed pseudoaneurysm of the ICA. Attempts to obliterate the pseudoaneurysm by interventional procedures failed due to the narrow neck of the pseudoaneurysm. Heparin was stopped and patient was maintained only on oral aspirin. Doppler study repeated 1 week later showed spontaneous thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm with good flow in the distal ICA. To the best of our knowledge, only one case of pseudo-pseudoaneurysm complicating surgical resection of carotid body tumor has been reported so far The etiology, imaging features, and treatment options of pseudoaneurysms are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agenesis and hypoplasia of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are rare congenital anomalies, occurring in less than 0.01% of the population. We report a rare case of bilateral hypoplasia of the ICA in a patient with post-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. We describe the embryological development of the cerebral vasculature and present a review of literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The primitive persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) is the most common carotid-basilar anastomosis, but because of its extremely low incidence, it is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to clarify the features of PTA and its variants (PTAV) based on a large magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) series. Methods: MRA was performed on continuous 16,415 patients (8,610 males and 7,805 females) between October 2005 and September 2008 using two 1.5-T systems and one 1.0-T system. These all MRAs were evaluated by neuroradiologists. Results: The incidence of both PTA and PTAV was 0.68% (48 cases of PTA, 50 cases of PTAV, and five unclassified). Among them, 65 cases originated from the left internal carotid artery and 38 from the right. There were 44 cases of lateral type PTA and four cases of medial type. Hypoplasia of the basilar artery proximal to the union of PTA was recognized as follows: no hypoplasia in 12 cases, moderate hypoplasia in 22 cases, and severe hypoplasia in 13 cases. Distance from SCA and the union was an average of 6.7 mm. Four cases of pre- and postoperative cerebral aneurysms were recognized in 103 cases (3.9%). Conclusion: We have identified details of both PTA/PTAV. The incidence of PTA was similar to previous studies, and the co-existence of cerebral aneurysm was also similar when compared to patients in the general population without PTA or PTAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥2.0 mg/L was associated with increased intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque burden, and plaque echolucency in carotid arteries. Women (n = 635) from a population sample of 64-year-old females with varying degrees of glucose tolerance underwent risk factor assessment, measurement of hsCRP, and ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries. Participants with hsCRP levels ≥2.0 mg/L had elevated carotid bulb IMT independently of other cardiovascular risk factors compared with those with hsCRP <2.0 mg/L. The participants with plaques in the highhsCRP group had larger total plaque area compared to those with plaque in the lower hsCRP group. Plaque echolucency did not differ between groups. High-sensitivity CRP levels ≥2.0 mg/L were accompanied by elevated IMT in the carotid bulbs independently of other cardiovascular risk factors. Total plaque area was larger among women with plaques in the high hsCRP group versus the lower hsCRP group. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective:To describe an unusual cause for hearing loss in an adult.Case report:A 37-year-old man presented with a year's history of right-sided hearing loss. He had no history of trauma, or local or systemic infection. He was otherwise well, took no medication and had no allergies. He had a two-year history of low back pain. On examination, he had a retracted right tympanic membrane with no perforation, and a middle-ear effusion. Nasendoscopy was normal. Examination of other systems was unremarkable. Computed tomography of the temporal bones with contrast demonstrated a large, right, intra-cerebral internal carotid artery aneurysm compressing the eustachian tube. After a balloon occlusion test, he underwent endovascular occlusion of the parent vessel. He made a good post-operative recovery. A subsequent abdominal ultrasound excluded an abdominal aneurysm as a cause of his low back pain. His hearing had not improved three days post-operatively, and was to be formally assessed and monitored in the clinic.Discussion:A carotid aneurysm is a rare cause of eustachian tube compression but must be considered in the differential diagnosis of conductive hearing loss. Aneurysms may have systemic causes, and their presence in other systems should be excluded as they may be multiple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous thrombosis of a giant intracranial aneurysm with parent artery occlusion is known. The exact mechanism is however unclear and various theories have been proposed. We present an unusual case of an angiographically documented cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection, which led to total occlusion of the ICA distal to the dissected site, with acute cessation of forward blood flow. This resulted in acute upstream thrombosis of the giant cavernous carotid artery aneurysm and an acute cavernous sinus syndrome-like presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 42-year-old male who had complaints of recurrent bouts of hemoptysis and a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. The delineation of the abnormal bronchial and nonbronchial vascular supply in the carotid artery was revealed in the computed tomography bronchial angiography (CTBA). The patient was discharged in a good condition, without any sign of hemoptysis.