Anja
Gwendolyn van der Kolk1, Gert Jan de Borst2, Anne G.
den Hartog2, M Eline Kooi3, Willem PThM Mali1,
Jeroen Hendrikse1
1Department of Radiology, University Medical
Center, Utrecht, Netherlands; 2Department of Vascular Surgery,
University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands; 3Department of
Radiology, University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
The
carotid MR hyperintense (vulnerable) plaque is associated with a higher
morbidity and mortality. We investigated the prevalence of this plaque and
its clinical correlates on T1-weighted turbo-field echo (T1w-TFE)
MRI in patients with ischemic symptoms and varying degrees of stenosis. 153
patients with TIA or ischemic infarct were retrospectively examined. 18%
showed one or more hyperintense plaques. Half of all hyperintense plaques
occurred in symptomatic patients with either 0-69% stenosis or occlusion;
more than ⅓ of patients with 50-69% stenosis presented with this
plaque. This subgroup of patients could in future possibly benefit from
aggressive medicinal therapy or revascularization.