scholarly journals 7.0 T MRI Detection of Cerebral Microinfarcts in Patients with a Symptomatic High-Grade Carotid artery Stenosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1715-1719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra AJ de Rotte ◽  
Wouter Koning ◽  
Anne G den Hartog ◽  
Sandra M Bovens ◽  
Jaco JM Zwanenburg ◽  
...  

In the current study, the presence of cerebral cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) was evaluated in a series of 21 patients with a symptomatic high-grade > 50% stenosis of the carotid artery. A T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence and a T1-weighted turbo field echo sequence of the brain were obtained at 7.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Primary study endpoint was the number of CMIs and macroinfarcts. In total, 53 cerebral infarcts (35 macroinfarcts; 18 CMIs) were found ipsilateral to the symptomatic carotid artery, in 14 patients (67%). In four of these patients, both CMIs and macroinfarcts were visible. In the contralateral hemisphere, seven infarcts (five macroinfarcts and two CMIs) were found in five patients (24%). In the ipsilateral hemispheres, the number of CMIs and macroinfarcts were significantly correlated ( P = 0.02). Unpaired comparison of medians showed that the number of CMIs in the ipsilateral hemisphere was significantly higher than the number of CMIs in the contralateral hemisphere ( P = 0.04). No significant correlation was found between stenosis grade and the number of any infarct. The current study shows that in symptomatic patients with significant extracranial carotid artery stenosis, CMIs are part of the total cerebrovascular burden and these CMIs prevail with a similar pattern as observed macroinfarcts.

Author(s):  
T.J. Coyne ◽  
M.C. Wallace

Abstract:A retrospective review was undertaken of 139 consecutive patients with presumed carotid artery stenosis referred to a vascular neurosurgeon. The review period included three years prior and one year subsequent to the publication of the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) preliminary results showing surgery to be superior to best medical therapy for patients with symptomatic, high grade (> 70% linear diameter) carotid stenosis. The aims of this analysis were to determine any changes in the referral pattern following the NASCET publication (post-NASCET), and to examine the use and reliability for surgical decision making of pre-referral carotid artery imaging. Patient referral rate increased markedly post-NASCET, particularly from neurologists. There was a trend for more post-NASCET referrals to be for high grade stenosis and fewer referrals to be for intermediate grade (30-69% linear diameter) stenosis, although continued referral of patients with intermediate grade stenosis is desirable as randomization into NASCET continues for this group of patients. Ninety-six patients (69%) were referred with carotid duplex ultrasonography having been performed. There was poor correlation of these results with angiography, which remains necessary for planning management. A majority of patients (65%) referred to this surgical practice did not come to surgery.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ching-I Wu ◽  
Chia-Lun Wu ◽  
Feng-Chieh Su ◽  
Shun-Wen Lin ◽  
Wen-Yi Huang

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The coincidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and carotid artery stenosis (CAS) was observed. However, the association between pre-existing CAD and ischemic stroke (IS) outcome in patients with high-grade CAS remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between pre-existing CAD and outcomes of acute IS patients with high-grade CAS. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> From January 1, 2007, to April 30, 2012, we enrolled 372 acute IS patients with high-grade CAS and prospectively observed them for 5 years. Demographic features, vascular risk factors, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared between patients with and without pre-existing CAD. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Among 372 individuals, 75 (20.2%) patients had pre-existing CAD and 297 (79.8%) patients did not have pre-existing CAD. The prevalence rates of hypertension, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and gout in patients with pre-existing CAD were significantly higher than in those without pre-existing CAD (<i>p</i> = 0.017, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001, <i>p</i> = 0.002, and <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001, respectively). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model revealed that pre-existing CAD was a significant risk factor for a 5-year all-cause mortality in acute IS patients with high-grade CAS (hazard ratio = 2.26; 95% confidence interval = 1.35–3.79; <i>p</i> = 0.002). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Pre-existing CAD was associated with an increased risk of 5-year mortality in acute IS patients with high-grade CAS. Intensive treatment for the pre-existing CAD may reduce long-term mortality in acute IS patients with high-grade CAS.


2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 494-497
Author(s):  
Dragoslav Nenezic ◽  
Slobodan Tanaskovic ◽  
Predrag Gajin ◽  
Nenad Ilijevski ◽  
Goran Vucurevic

Introduction. Multislice CT angiography (CTA) is a noninvasive and quick technique to image carotid artery stenosis, as well as intracerebral vasculature. Modern multidetector CTA produces images with a high resolution of, not only the contrast-filled lumen, but also of the vessel wall and the surrounding soft tissues. Multiple studies have verified the ability of CTA to provide an accurate representation of the degree of carotid stenosis in comparison to digital subtraction angiography, both for moderate and high-grade stenosis. Because of its fast and accurate vessel imaging, CT angiography is increasingly used in the assessment of carotid artery stenosis. Case Outline. A 37-year-old female patient was admitted at the Vascular Surgery Clinic of the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases 'Dedinje', Belgrade, for angiography and endovascular procedure of a high-grade stenosis of the left common carotid artery based on Multislice CT findings brought by the patient. She complained of problems which we considered to be the result of cerebral circulation ischemia. After detailed diagnostic procedures, we concluded that no pathological lesions could be verified either on the left common carotid artery or other supraaortic branches. Therefore, the patient was discharged for further neurological examinations. Conclusion. Although Multislice CTA has many advantages over classical angiography, its validity should be taken with reserve, especially in younger patients.


2010 ◽  
Vol 211 (1) ◽  
pp. 231-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sander I. van Leuven ◽  
Diederik F. van Wijk ◽  
Oscar L. Volger ◽  
Jean-Paul P.M. de Vries ◽  
Chris M. van der Loos ◽  
...  

Radiology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 230 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Schila Sabeti ◽  
Martin Schillinger ◽  
Wolfgang Mlekusch ◽  
Tassilo Nachtmann ◽  
Wilfried Lang ◽  
...  

Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Cheng ◽  
Salomeh Keyhani ◽  
Susan Ofner ◽  
Linda Williams ◽  
Dawn Bravata

Background: Landmark clinical trials have shown that carotid procedures can greatly reduce the risk of stroke in persons with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis between 70 and 99% and can somewhat reduce the risk of stroke in persons with symptomatic carotid stenosis between 50 and 69%. Guidelines have recommended that results from carotid artery imaging tests be presented in these ranges to facilitate decision-making. We sought to determine how carotid imaging results were reported across Veterans Administration (VA) facilities. Methods: Carotid artery imaging results were obtained as part of a comprehensive chart review of veterans hospitalized with ischemic stroke at 127 VA hospitals in fiscal year 2007. Abstractors recorded the results of carotid ultrasound, MR angiography, CT angiography, or catheter angiography performed in the twelve months prior to admission to six months after admission. We excluded carotid artery imaging reports with results of “no stenosis”, “mild stenosis”, exact degree of stenosis <50%, or any range of stenosis <50% to focus on those reports that would likely inform decisions about carotid procedures. The unit of analysis was the carotid artery. We described how often the results were presented as an exact degree (such as 60%), as a range (such as 50 to 69%), or as a descriptive category (“moderate” or “severe” stenosis). For results described as a range, we examined how often it matched those used in landmark trials. Results: Of 6527 results of carotid artery imaging, there were 1315 results of greater than 50% or at least “moderate stenosis” (see Table ). Only 234 of the reports used a range to describe the stenosis; among this set, only 55 of the reports used a 50-69% or 70-99% range to describe the stenosis. Conclusions: In this national healthcare system, significant carotid artery stenosis was rarely reported in a way that exactly mapped onto recommendations from landmark clinical trials and guidelines. Clinicians who order these diagnostic tests as well as clinicians who interpret these diagnostic tests should collaborate to produce standardized reports that facilitate decision-making.


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