Relationship between hyoid-carotid distance, hyoid position and morphology and degree of stenosis and associated stroke: Hyoid-carotid relationship.

Background: Pressure on carotid artery by hyoid bone may influence plaque formation. We studied CTA-based hyoid-carotid anatomical interaction and its relationship with carotid stenosis degree and stenosis-related stroke.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed pre-operative CTA of 205 consecutive adults having undergone carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for asymptomatic or symptomatic stenosis.