Gador Canton1, Li Dong1, Hunter R. Underhill1, William S. Kerwin1, Zhongzhao Teng2, Dalin Tang2, Baocheng Chu1, Thomas S. Hatsukami3, Chun Yuan1
1Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; 2Mathematical Sciences, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA; 3Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
The aim of this study was to determine the association between morphological features associated to high-risk carotid atherosclerotic plaque as measured by MRI and both the local and the global maximal structural stress. In vivo carotid MRI is used to render the arterial geometry and plaque morphological features as well as to measure the fibrous cap thickness. A finite element method is used to solve the equations governing the wall mechanics