Vulnerable carotid plaque: imaging evaluation and risk prediction of ischemic stroke

Stroke has become the leading cause of death in China, and carotid atherosclerosis is an important risk factor for ischemic stroke. In current carotid atherosclerosis diagnosis and treatment guidelines, patients are stratified based on the degree of vascular stenosis. However, the presence of carotid atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques can cause ischemic stroke at any time, regardless of the degree of carotid stenosis. The development of MRI technology, especially the advent of high-resolution MRI, enables non-invasive assessment of carotid plaque structure and properties, and provides optimized treatment strategies for high-risk stroke population in the early stage to achieve the goal of prevention and treatment of stroke. Key words: Carotid stenosis; Plaque, atherosclerotic; Ultrasonography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Tomography, X-ray computed; Molecular imaging; Risk factors