Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 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

Correlation Between Ultrasound-Based Carotid Plaque Characteristics and Coronary Artery Disease Severity: A

Yani Pan1, Xiaomin Chen1, Lingling Qiu1

  • 1Electrocardiogram Room, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.

Angiology
|May 11, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Carotid ultrasound plaque characteristics, especially intima-media thickness (IMT), correlate with coronary artery disease (CAD) severity. These findings help identify complex coronary artery disease and improve risk prediction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Atherosclerosis Research

Background:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and complexity are critical indicators of patient prognosis.
  • Carotid ultrasound provides valuable information about atherosclerotic plaque characteristics.
  • The association between carotid plaque features and coronary anatomical complexity requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between carotid ultrasound plaque characteristics and CAD severity.
  • To assess the incremental predictive value of carotid ultrasound in identifying complex coronary artery disease.

Main Methods:

  • 301 patients underwent simultaneous carotid ultrasound and coronary assessment.
  • CAD severity was quantified using Gensini and SYNTAX scores.
  • Carotid parameters included IMT, plaque burden, echogenicity, surface, and stenosis.

Main Results:

  • Higher SYNTAX scores correlated with increased IMT, plaque burden, and high-risk plaque features.
  • Mean IMT showed the strongest correlation with Gensini (r=0.65) and SYNTAX (r=0.53) scores.
  • Carotid ultrasound parameters improved the prediction of high SYNTAX scores (AUC increased from 0.728 to 0.826).

Conclusions:

  • Carotid ultrasound plaque characteristics, particularly IMT, are significantly associated with CAD severity.
  • Carotid ultrasound offers incremental value in identifying patients with complex coronary artery disease.
  • These findings support the use of carotid ultrasound for comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment.

Keywords:
Gensini scoreSYNTAX scoreatherosclerosiscarotid plaquecarotid ultrasoundcoronary artery disease severityintima-media thickness

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