Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is currently performed as a therapeutic strategy for the management of the cervical carotid artery stenosis. In our clinic, PTA was performed successfully in all 24 patients initially. Restenosis was observed in 4 of 24 patients who received 3 to 6 month follow-up angiography. Repeated PTA was performed in 4 patients, 3 of whom were successfully treated, while severe wall dissection occurred in 1 patient. Furthermore, asymptomatic re-restenosis was noted in 1 of 4 patients who received repeated PTA. Dissection was noted in 5 of 28 procedures, which occurred more often in the patients with calcified or restenotic lesions. These results suggest that stenting or emergent surgery should be prepared in PTA of the carotid artery stenosis to avoid major complications, especially when the patients have calcified or restenotic lesions.
Therapeutic Strategy for Carotid Artery Stenosis Based on Vessel Wall Imaging
