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Benson JC, Saba L, Bathla G, Brinjikji W, Nardi V, Lanzino G. MR Imaging of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis: Updated Evidence on High-Risk Plaque Features and Emerging Trends. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2023; 44:880-888. [PMID: 37385681 PMCID: PMC10411837 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
MR imaging is well-established as the criterion standard for carotid artery atherosclerosis imaging. The capability of MR imaging to differentiate numerous plaque components has been demonstrated, including those features that are associated with a high risk of sudden changes, thrombosis, or embolization. The field of carotid plaque MR imaging is constantly evolving, with continued insight into the imaging appearance and implications of various vulnerable plaque characteristics. This article will review the most up-to-date knowledge of these high-risk plaque features on MR imaging and will delve into 2 major emerging topics: the role of vulnerable plaques in cryptogenic strokes and the potential use of MR imaging to modify carotid endarterectomy treatment guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Benson
- From the Departments of Radiology (J.C.B., G.B., W.B.)
| | - L Saba
- Department of Medical Sciences (L.S.), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Bathla
- From the Departments of Radiology (J.C.B., G.B., W.B.)
| | - W Brinjikji
- From the Departments of Radiology (J.C.B., G.B., W.B.)
| | - V Nardi
- Cardiovascular Medicine (V.N.)
| | - G Lanzino
- Neurosurgery (G.L.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Giordano C, Morello A, Corcione N, Giordano S, Gaudino S, Colosimo C. Choice of imaging to evaluate carotid stenosis and guide management. Minerva Med 2022; 113:1017-1026. [PMID: 35671001 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4806.22.07996-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Carotid artery disease is a cause of ischemic stroke and is associated with cognitive decline. Besides the evaluation of the degree of stenosis, it is also crucial to assess the morphology of the atherosclerotic plaque, for a prompt and accurate diagnosis, and to make the best decision for the patient. On top of noninvasive duplex ultrasound (DUS) and invasive digital subtraction angiography (DSA), compute tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are often used effectively as noninvasive imaging tools to study carotid stenoses. This review describes the fundamental characteristics of carotid artery plaques, and how they can be best evaluated with currently available imaging methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Giordano
- Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy -
| | - Alberto Morello
- Unit of Cardiovascular Intervention, Pineta Grande Hospital, Castel Volturno, Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicola Corcione
- Unit of Cardiovascular Intervention, Pineta Grande Hospital, Castel Volturno, Caserta, Italy
| | - Salvatore Giordano
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, The Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Simona Gaudino
- Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Cesare Colosimo
- Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy
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Mikail N, Meseguer E, Lavallée P, Klein I, Hobeanu C, Guidoux C, Cabrejo L, Lesèche G, Amarenco P, Hyafil F. Evaluation of non-stenotic carotid atherosclerotic plaques with combined FDG-PET imaging and CT angiography in patients with ischemic stroke of unknown origin. J Nucl Cardiol 2022; 29:1329-1336. [PMID: 33462787 DOI: 10.1007/s12350-020-02511-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Non-stenotic plaques are an underestimated cause of ischemic stroke. Imaging aspects of high-risk carotid plaques can be identified on CT angiography (CTA) and 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging. We evaluated in patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke the usefulness of FDG-PET-CTA. METHODS 44 patients imaged with CTA and FDG-PET were identified retrospectively. Morphological features were identified on CTA. Intensity of FDG uptake in carotid arteries was quantified on PET. RESULTS Patients were imaged 7 ± 8 days after stroke. 44 non-stenotic plaques with increased 18F-FDG uptake were identified in the carotid artery ipsilateral to stroke and 7 contralateral. Most-diseased-segment TBR on FDG-PET was higher in artery ipsilateral vs. contralateral to stroke (2.24 ± 0.80 vs. 1.84 ± 0.50; p < .05). In the carotid region with high FDG uptake, prevalence of hypodense plaques and extent of hypodensity on CTA were higher in artery ipsilateral vs. contralateral to stroke (41% vs. 11%; 0.72 ± 1.2 mm2 vs. 0.13 ± 0.43 mm2; p < .05). CONCLUSIONS In patients with ischemic stroke of unknown origin and non-stenotic plaques, we found an increased prevalence of high-risk plaques features ipsilateral vs. contralateral to stroke on FDG-PET-CTA imaging suggesting a causal role for these plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidaa Mikail
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Bichat University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Elena Meseguer
- Department of Neurology, Bichat University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Philippa Lavallée
- Department of Neurology, Bichat University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Klein
- Department of Neurology, Bichat University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Cristina Hobeanu
- Department of Neurology, Bichat University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Céline Guidoux
- Department of Neurology, Bichat University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Lucie Cabrejo
- Department of Neurology, Bichat University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Guy Lesèche
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Bichat University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Amarenco
- Department of Neurology, Bichat University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Fabien Hyafil
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Georges-Pompidou European Hospital, DMU IMAGINA, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France.
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Sun B, Ge X, Li X, Zhang J, Zhao Z, Liu X, Zhou Y, Xu J, Zhao H, Sun J. Elevated Hemoglobin A1c Is Associated With Leaky Plaque Neovasculature as Detected by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022; 42:504-513. [PMID: 35236109 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.121.317190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with diabetes have accelerated atherosclerosis progression, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging has allowed in vivo characterization of plaque neovasculature, which plays a critical role in plaque progression. We aimed to evaluate the impact of diabetes on carotid plaque neovasculature as assessed by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS Patients with recent ischemic stroke and ipsilateral carotid plaque underwent multicontrast magnetic resonance imaging for characterizing plaque morphology and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for pharmacokinetic parameters of plaque neovasculature, including transfer constant (Ktrans, reflecting flow, endothelial surface area, and permeability) and fractional plasma volume (νp). RESULTS Sixty-five patients were enrolled, including 30 patients with diabetes (years since diagnosis: median 5.0 [interquartile range, [3.0-12.0]) and 35 patients without diabetes. Subjects with diabetes had a greater plaque burden and a higher prevalence of high-risk characteristics. Additionally, carotid plaques in the subjects with diabetes showed higher Ktrans than those in the subjects without diabetes (0.100±0.048 min-1 versus 0.067±0.042 min-1, P=0.005) but νp was numerically lower in the subjects with diabetes (5.2±3.7% versus 6.2±4.3%, P=0.31). The association of diabetes with high Ktrans (β=0.033, P=0.005) was independent of patient and plaque characteristics and remained largely intact after adjusting for serum lipids, glucose, or hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). However, it became nonexistent after adjusting for hemoglobin A1c (β=-0.010, P=0.49). CONCLUSIONS Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of carotid plaques suggested that plaque neovasculature in patients with diabetes is leaky, indicating enhanced capability of bringing blood constituents and facilitating extravasation of inflammatory cells, erythrocytes, and plasma proteins. Leaky plaque neovasculature correlated with hemoglobin A1c and may play a role in accelerated atherosclerosis progression in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Sun
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (B.S., X.G., X.L., J.Z., Z.Z., X.L., Y.Z., J.X., H.Z.)
| | - Xiaoqian Ge
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (B.S., X.G., X.L., J.Z., Z.Z., X.L., Y.Z., J.X., H.Z.)
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, Jinan, China (X.G.)
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (B.S., X.G., X.L., J.Z., Z.Z., X.L., Y.Z., J.X., H.Z.)
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, Jinan, China (X.G.)
| | - Jianjian Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (B.S., X.G., X.L., J.Z., Z.Z., X.L., Y.Z., J.X., H.Z.)
| | - Zizhou Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (B.S., X.G., X.L., J.Z., Z.Z., X.L., Y.Z., J.X., H.Z.)
| | - Xiaosheng Liu
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (B.S., X.G., X.L., J.Z., Z.Z., X.L., Y.Z., J.X., H.Z.)
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (B.S., X.G., X.L., J.Z., Z.Z., X.L., Y.Z., J.X., H.Z.)
| | - Jianrong Xu
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (B.S., X.G., X.L., J.Z., Z.Z., X.L., Y.Z., J.X., H.Z.)
| | - Huilin Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (B.S., X.G., X.L., J.Z., Z.Z., X.L., Y.Z., J.X., H.Z.)
| | - Jie Sun
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle (J.S.)
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Zhu M, Ma L, Yang W, Tang L, Li H, Zheng M, Mou S. Elastography ultrasound with machine learning improves the diagnostic performance of traditional ultrasound in predicting kidney fibrosis. J Formos Med Assoc 2021; 121:1062-1072. [PMID: 34452784 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2021.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noninvasively predicting kidney tubulointerstitial fibrosis is important because it's closely correlated with the development and prognosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Most studies of shear wave elastography (SWE) in CKD were limited to non-linear statistical dependencies and didn't fully consider variables' interactions. Therefore, support vector machine (SVM) of machine learning was used to assess the prediction value of SWE and traditional ultrasound techniques in kidney fibrosis. METHODS We consecutively recruited 117 CKD patients with kidney biopsy. SWE, B-mode, color Doppler flow imaging ultrasound and hematological exams were performed on the day of kidney biopsy. Kidney tubulointerstitial fibrosis was graded by semi-quantification of Masson staining. The diagnostic performances were accessed by ROC analysis. RESULTS Tubulointerstitial fibrosis area was significantly correlated with eGFR among CKD patients (R = 0.450, P < 0.001). AUC of SWE, combined with B-mode and blood flow ultrasound by SVM, was 0.8303 (sensitivity, 77.19%; specificity, 71.67%) for diagnosing tubulointerstitial fibrosis (>10%), higher than either traditional ultrasound, or SWE (AUC, 0.6735 [sensitivity, 67.74%; specificity, 65.45%]; 0.5391 [sensitivity, 55.56%; specificity, 53.33%] respectively. Delong test, p < 0.05); For diagnosing different grades of tubulointerstitial fibrosis, SWE combined with traditional ultrasound by SVM, had AUCs of 0.6429 for mild tubulointerstitial fibrosis (11%-25%), and 0.9431 for moderate to severe tubulointerstitial fibrosis (>50%), higher than other methods (Delong test, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION SWE with SVM modeling could improve the diagnostic performance of traditional kidney ultrasound in predicting different kidney tubulointerstitial fibrosis grades among CKD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyan Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Liyong Ma
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai, China
| | - Wenqi Yang
- Department of Ultrasound, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Lumin Tang
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Hongli Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Min Zheng
- Department of Ultrasound, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Shan Mou
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China.
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