Quantification of carotid artery plaque and peri-vascular adipose tissue attenuation on computed tomography

Quantitative assessment of carotid artery plaque on computed tomography (CT) may identify high-risk phenotypes associated with culprit lesions and subsequent ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack.

Carotid CT angiography was performed in 48 patients with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack within 21 days. Quantitative plaque assessment was performed in the proximal 6 cm of the internal and external carotid artery, distal 6 cm of the common carotid artery, and residual common carotid artery. Semi-automated quantification included assessment of non-calcified, calcified, low-attenuation, and total plaque, area and diameter stenosis, and peri-vascular adipose tissue attenuation. In 48 patients (mean age 71 ± 11 years, 67% male), 96 vessels were assessed with 30 (31%) identified as culprit vessels. Culprit internal carotid arteries had greater area [83 (65, 94) vs. 64 (55, 77)%] and diameter [56 (39, 74) vs. 32 (21, 48)%] stenosis and more non-calcified [563 (413, 965) vs. 428 (283 649) mm³, P = 0.04], low-attenuation [33.7 (6.9, 72.4) vs. 16.3 (3.35, 54.3) mm³, P = 0.01], and total [699 (455, 1057) vs. 492 (311, 809), P = 0.04] plaque. There was no difference in calcified plaque or peri-vascular adipose tissue attenuation between culprit and non-culprit internal carotid arteries. There were no differences in quantitative plaque or peri-vascular adipose tissue attenuation in the external carotid artery or common carotid artery.

Carotid atherosclerotic plaque characteristics are the principal features associated with culprit plaques with little or no demonstrable relationship with calcified plaque or increased peri-vascular adipose tissue attenuation.