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Demographics of carotid atherosclerotic plaque features imaged by computed tomography
- Source :
- Journal of neuroradiology = Journal de neuroradiologie. 40(1)
- Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- This was a prospective, cross-sectional study to evaluate the risk factors and symptoms associated with specific carotid wall and atherosclerotic plaque features as seen on computed tomography-angiography (CTA) studies.A total of 120 consecutive consenting patients admitted to the emergency department with suspected cerebrovascular ischemia, and receiving standard-of-care CTA of the brain and neck on a 64-slice CT scanner, were prospectively enrolled in the study. The carotid wall features observed on CT were quantitatively analyzed with customized software using different radiodensities for contrast-phase acquisition of the carotids. Clinical datasets, including a complete medical history and examination, were obtained by research physicians or specially trained associates blinded to any findings on CT. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the degree of association between clinical indicators and quantitative CT features of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.Men tended to have increased carotid lumen (coefficient: 608.7; 95% CI: 356.9-860.6; P0.001) and wall volumes (209.2; 54.5-364.0; P=0.008), and hypertension was associated with increased wall volume (260.6; 88.7-432.6; P=0.003). Advanced age was associated with increases in maximum wall thickness (0.02; 0.003-0.05; P=0.029), fibrous cap thickness (0.005; 0.001-0.008; P=0.016) and number of calcium voxels (2.7; 1.25-4.2; P0.001), and the presence of a carotid bruit was associated with carotid stenosis length (21.0; 5.38-37.8; P=0.009). Exercise was inversely related to the number of calcium (-37.1; -71.5 - -2.7; P=0.035) and lipid (-7.9; -15.1 - -0.7; P=0.032) voxels. ACE inhibitor use was associated with fibrous cap thickness (0.1; 0.04-0.23; P=0.005).Significant associations were found between clinical descriptors and carotid atherosclerotic plaque features as revealed by CT. Future studies are needed to validate our findings, and to continue investigations into whether CT features of carotid plaques can be used as biomarkers to quantify the impact of strategies aiming to correct vascular risk factors.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Carotid Artery Diseases
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Lumen (anatomy)
Computed tomography
Comorbidity
computer.software_genre
Brain Ischemia
Age Distribution
Voxel
Risk Factors
medicine
Prevalence
Humans
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Medical history
Sex Distribution
Cerebrovascular Ischemia
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Fibrous cap
Angiography
Emergency department
Middle Aged
medicine.anatomical_structure
ACE inhibitor
Hypertension
Female
San Francisco
Neurology (clinical)
Radiology
business
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
computer
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 01509861
- Volume :
- 40
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of neuroradiology = Journal de neuroradiologie
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....c73e350395aa3ab7b38b6c5d8b4bdce9