Application of CT angiography in assessment of histopathological features of carotid ulcer plaque / 中华神经医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the histopathological features of ulcer plaque identified by carotid CT angiography (CTA), and to explore the relationship between ulcer plaque and ischemic stroke from the microscopic perspective.Methods:Clinical data of 124 patients with carotid artery stenosis underwent carotid endarterectomy in our hospital from September 2016 to September 2020 were collected. According to the CTA results of carotid arteries, these patients were divided into ulcer plaque group ( n=47) and non-ulcer plaque group ( n=77). The clinical data, and vulnerability index and histopathological differences of placque tissues between the two groups were compared. Results:The proportion of patients with cerebral infarction history in ulcer plaque group was significantly higher than that in non-ulcer plaque group ( P<0.05). As compared with the non-ulcer plaque group, the ulcer plaque group had significantly higher proportions of fibrous cap rupture, intra-plaque hemorrhage and large necrotic core of lipid ( P<0.05). The vulnerability index of ulcer plaque group and non-ulcer plaque group was 2.01±0.51 and 0.49±0.25, respectively, with significant difference ( t=19.300, P<0.001). Conclusion:The ulcer plaque identified by CTA is correlated with fibrous cap rupture, intra-plaque hemorrhage and large necrotic core of lipid; at the same time, ulcer plaque is unstable and these patients are trended to have ischemic stroke.