Prediction of Stroke Risk by Detection of Hemorrhage in Carotid Plaques: Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to compare the risk of stroke between patients with carotid artery disease with and without the presence of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) on magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: IPH in carotid stenosis increases the risk of cerebrovascular events. Uncertainty remains whether risk of stroke alone is increased and whether stroke is predicted independently of known risk factors.

Carotid near-occlusion can be identified with ultrasound by low flow velocity distal to the stenosis.

Background: Most carotid near-occlusions are indistinguishable from conventional ≥ 50% stenosis on ultrasound, demonstrating high peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the stenosis.

Purpose: To study whether the velocity distal to the stenosis can separate high PSV near-occlusion from conventional ≥ 50% stenosis.

Material And Methods: We included patients with ≥ 50% carotid stenosis with high PSV (≥125 cm/s), examined with both computed tomography angiography (CTA) and ultrasound within 30 days, and a distal velocity measurement was performed.

Carotid near-occlusion frequently has high peak systolic velocity on Doppler ultrasound.

Purpose: Carotid near-occlusion is a tight atherosclerotic stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) resulting in decrease in diameter of the vessel lumen distal to the stenosis. Near-occlusions can be classified as with or without full collapse, and may have high peak systolic velocity (PSV) across the stenosis, mimicking conventional > 50% carotid artery stenosis. We aimed to determine how frequently near-occlusions have high PSV in the stenosis and determine how accurately carotid Doppler ultrasound can distinguish high-velocity near-occlusion from conventional stenosis.

Progression of internal carotid artery stenosis in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Objectives: To study the risk factors and rate of progression of asymptomatic carotid stenosis in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Methods: Between July 1999 and September 2003, we studied consecutive patients referred to a vascular laboratory for peripheral arterial occlusive disease who had not experienced neurologic symptoms within the previous 3 years. Carotid duplex ultrasound scan (DUS) was performed at baseline and at 6 to 12-month intervals.

Moderate carotid artery stenosis: MR imaging-depicted intraplaque hemorrhage predicts risk of cerebrovascular ischemic events in asymptomatic men.

Purpose: To investigate the association between magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-depicted intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) in the carotid artery wall and the risk of future ipsilateral cerebrovascular events in men with asymptomatic moderate carotid stenosis by using a rapid three-dimensional T1-weighted fat-suppressed spoiled gradient-echo sequence.

Materials And Methods: The institutional ethics review board approved this retrospective chart review and waived the requirement for written informed consent. All patients gave informed verbal consent at follow-up telephone interviews.

In vivo 3D high-spatial-resolution MR imaging of intraplaque hemorrhage.

Purpose: To apply magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), as compared with histologic analysis as the reference standard, to detect T1 hyperintense intraplaque signal and to test the hypothesis that T1 hyperintense material represents blood products (methemoglobin).

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval and patient informed consent were obtained. Eleven patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were examined with MR imaging of IPH, and MR images were assessed for T1 hyperintense intraplaque signal.

Diagnosis and outcome of blunt caval injuries in the modern trauma center.

Background: Blunt vena caval injury (BCI) is uncommon with only a few published reports in the literature. Recently, with high resolution computed tomography (CT) scan imaging signs of caval injury are sometimes found in hemodynamically stable patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the current course of patients with BCI.

In vivo identification of complicated upper thoracic aorta and arch vessel plaque by MR direct thrombus imaging in patients investigated for cerebrovascular disease.

Objective: The objective of this article was to assess the feasibility of MR direct thrombus imaging (MRDTI) to evaluate the prevalence and location of complicated upper thoracic aortic and arch vessel plaque in patients referred for evaluation of cerebrovascular disease.

Subjects And Methods: Patients referred for investigation of cerebrovascular disease by MRI were enrolled. Reasons for referral included transient ischemic attack/amaurosis fugax, acute infarct, remote infarct, or asymptomatic carotid disease.