Comparison of carotid and cerebrovascular disease between diabetic and non-diabetic patients using dual-source CT

To clarify the differences of the carotid and cerebrovascular disease between patients with and without type 2 diabetes using dual-source CT angiography.

Dual-source CT angiography of the carotid and cerebrovascular arteries was performed in 79 type 2 diabetic patients and 207 non-diabetic patients. The type, extent and distribution of plaques, and luminal stenosis were compared.

Compared with non-diabetic patients, diabetic patients had a higher overall incidence of plaque (p<0.05) and cerebral infarction (p<0.05). Among these plaques, no differences were observed in the subtype of plaques between these two cohorts (all p>0.05), as well as for the number of diseased segments and the distribution of plaques; both mainly involved the bilateral cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery. As for the stenosis, non-obstructive lesions were more common in diabetic patients (p<0.05). There was no difference in the segment number of stenosis (≥30% and ≥70%) between these two groups (all p>0.05).

Diabetes is associated with a higher incidence of plaque and non-obstructive stenosis. However, no significant differences were observed in the type, extent and distribution of involved plaques between diabetic and non-diabetic patients.