Correlating Ex Vivo Carotid Calcification Measurements With Cerebrovascular Symptoms: A Proof-of-Concept Study

The purpose of this study is to examine the ability of ex vivo derived Agatston, Volume, and Density-Volume calcium scores or calcium density measurements to differentiate between carotid plaques based on preoperative cerebrovascular symptomatology.

Thirty-eight carotid plaques were acquired from standard endarterectomy. Micro-computed tomography was performed on the ex vivo samples. Image series were downsampled to represent the resolution of clinical multidetector computed tomography. Agatston, Volume, and Density-Volume carotid calcium scores were then calculated using coronary methodologies. The fractions of low- and high-density calcification were also determined.

The coronary calcium scores could not differentiate between carotid plaques from asymptomatic versus symptomatic patients. However, plaques from asymptomatic patients contained significantly lower fractions of low-density calcification and higher fractions of high-density calcification.

Screening for carotid calcium density in noncontrast computed tomography could reflect plaque stability.