Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
Temporal changes of ulcerative plaques in the aortic arch in recurrent stroke patients
Yuji Ueno1, Masao Watanabe, Yasutaka Tanaka
1Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Urayasu, Chiba.
Background:
Ulcerative aortic plaques (UAPs) are considered a major source of brain embolism. However, whether UAPs contribute to a specific stroke mechanism remains unknown.
Methods:
Three consecutive patients with recurrent embolic stroke underwent repeated transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examinations after their initial and recurrent strokes.
Results:
All 3 patients had UAPs. Between TEEs, different morphologies of UAPs were found in cases 1 and 2, and case 3 maintained advanced UAPs with no significant morphological alteration. Case 3 underwent repeated contrast-enhanced computed tomographic examinations after each stroke event, which showed newly developed, uneven, ulcerative plaques in the aortic arch after recurrent stroke.
Conclusions:
Repeated TEE showed dynamic changes of UAPs in recurrent stroke patients and supported the diagnosis of aortogenic brain embolism.
Related Concept Videos
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Atherosclerosis I: Introduction
