Management of Mobile Floating Carotid Plaque Using Carotid Artery Stenting

Truth of Floating Carotid Plaques

The floating plaque in carotid artery is an uncommon condition that can be detected by a duplex ultrasonography scan and is a high-risk factor for embolic cerebrovascular disease. The histopathological features of floating plaque in carotid artery vary. To the best of our knowledge, there is still considerable controversy about the treatment of floating carotid plaque. In this case, the floating carotid plaque was located in the edge of atherosclerotic plaque in common carotid artery, pathological finding following carotid endarterectomy confirmed that the mobile substances were formed by the contents of the plaque protruding into the carotid lumen after the rupture of the fibrous cap, without mural thrombus. This pathological change was different from those of the mobile substances, which were commonly considered as mural thrombotic substances of ulcer plaque caused by the ruptures of fibrous cap of vulnerable plaque. According to pathological differences, we investigated pathogenesis of ischemic cerebrovascular disease caused by floating carotid plaque and possible treatments.

Carotid Artery Stenting Successfully Prevents Progressive Stroke Due to Mobile Plaque

We report a case of progressive ischemic stroke due to a mobile plaque, in which carotid artery stenting successfully prevented further infarctions. A 78-year-old man developed acute multiple infarcts in the right hemisphere, and a duplex ultrasound showed a mobile plaque involving the bifurcation of the left common carotid artery. Maximal medical therapy failed to prevent further infarcts, and the number of infarcts increased with his neurological deterioration. Our present case suggests that the deployment of a closed-cell stent is effective to prevent the progression of the ischemic stroke due to the mobile plaque.

Reappearance of free-floating carotid thrombus after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy

A 73-year-old woman who suddenly developed left hemiparesis was admitted to our hospital. Ultrasonography on admission showed a free-floating thrombus (FFT) attached to an ulcerative plaque in the right common carotid artery. The FFT almost disappeared during treatment with intravenous anticoagulation therapy for acute stroke, but it reappeared when the therapy was discontinued. She underwent endarterectomy on day 13, after which she was free from stroke recurrence.

Floating thrombus as a marker of unstable atheromatous carotid plaque

Floating thrombus in a carotid artery is an uncommon pathology with a high risk of embolism. We present three patients diagnosed with acute stroke, with a floating thrombus complicating an atheromatous plaque, who were treated with anticoagulants and statins. Although two patients had satisfactory results, one patient suffered a stroke related to plaque progression nearly 3 years after initial presentation. Medical treatment seems to be a good initial option, although late cerebral ischemic complications may be seen due to carotid plaque instability. Delayed carotid endarterectomy or stenting should be considered in cases with subsequent plaque progression.