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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
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A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
Published on: February 7, 2015
Multimodal ultrasound-based morphological differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid web
Chenyang Dai1,2,3,4, Shihao Ruan1,2,3,4, Linlin Li1
1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Frontiers in Neurology
|July 9, 2026
Summary
Symptomatic carotid webs (CWs) have distinct ultrasound features, including larger dimensions and specific shapes, compared to asymptomatic ones. These findings aid in identifying patients at higher risk for stroke.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Neurology
- Medical Imaging
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Carotid webs (CWs) are congenital anomalies that can lead to ischemic stroke.
- Distinguishing between symptomatic and asymptomatic CWs is crucial for stroke risk stratification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical and ultrasound morphological differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid webs (CWs).
- To identify potential risk factors for CW-associated ischemic stroke using ultrasound features.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 45 patients diagnosed with CW.
- Categorization based on CW-associated stroke occurrence.
- Multimodal ultrasound assessment of CW morphology, stenosis, and hemodynamics.
- Logistic regression analysis to identify high-risk ultrasound features.
Main Results:
- Symptomatic CWs were associated with higher hyperlipidemia prevalence, larger dimensions (length and thickness), and a more frequent curved shape.
- While stenosis was mostly mild, symptomatic CWs showed significantly lower resistance index (RI) on ultrasound.
- Multivariate analysis identified CW length, CW thickness, and lower RI as independent predictors of symptomatic CWs.
Conclusions:
- Symptomatic CWs possess distinct morphological and hemodynamic characteristics detectable by ultrasound.
- These ultrasound-detectable features can aid in identifying patients at elevated risk for stroke, facilitating targeted prevention strategies.
