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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Computational Protocol for Analysis of Plaque Morphology and Hemodynamics in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis
09:36

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Computational Protocol for Analysis of Plaque Morphology and Hemodynamics in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis

Published on: August 12, 2025

Carotid artery abnormalities and leukoaraiosis in elderly patients: evaluation with MDCT

Luca Saba1, Roberto Sanfilippo, Luigi Pascalis

  • 1Department of Radiology, Policlinico Universitario, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. lucasaba@tiscali.it

AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology
|January 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Leukoaraiosis, a condition linked to poor prognosis, significantly correlates with carotid stenosis severity and age. Fatty plaques in carotid arteries may also increase leukoaraiosis risk.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Radiology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Leukoaraiosis is a clinically significant condition associated with adverse outcomes like death, stroke, and myocardial infarction.
  • Understanding factors contributing to leukoaraiosis is crucial for managing elderly patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between leukoaraiosis presence and severity with carotid artery stenosis degree.
  • To examine the association between leukoaraiosis and specific carotid plaque types (fatty, mixed, calcified) in elderly individuals.

Main Methods:

  • 147 elderly patients (≥65 years) underwent Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT).
  • Leukoaraiosis presence and severity were assessed.
  • Carotid artery stenosis degree and plaque types were evaluated using North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial criteria.

Main Results:

  • A significant correlation was found between leukoaraiosis presence and carotid stenosis degree (r=0.23, p<0.001).
  • Advanced patient age strongly correlated with leukoaraiosis presence (r=0.32, p<0.0001) and severity (r=0.55, p<0.0001).
  • A trend suggested increased leukoaraiosis risk with fatty carotid plaques (p=0.08).

Conclusions:

  • A statistically significant correlation exists between leukoaraiosis presence/severity and carotid stenosis degree.
  • Leukoaraiosis development is strongly correlated with advanced age.
  • Fatty carotid plaques show a trend towards increased leukoaraiosis risk.
Abstract

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