The Correlative Analysis Between Carotid Atheromatous Plaque And Leukoaraiosis

Objective: To analysis the ciassification of carotid plaque by using high resoiution muitipie seguences imaging with 3.0T MR scanner, and to research the relationship between the ciassification of plaque and its composition with leukoaraiosis.Methods:126 patients with carotid atheroscierotic plaque which detected by dupiex uitrasound underwent biiaterai carotid artery MRI with a 3. 0T scanner. Phase-array coii of neck and ECG gating were used. The pulse sequences included T1 WI, T2 WI, FLAIR, DWI, 3D time of fight and 3D MERGE. American heart association ciassification criteria was modified for MRI diagnosis and was used to evaluate the plaques, the plaque can be divided into six types, including type I-II、III、IV-V、VI、VII and type VIII. To judge the patients with or without leukoaraiosis and its severity classification, according to its severity, leukoaraiosis can be divided into three levels: level 1, level 2 and level 3, analysis the composition and stability of plaque. Compare the difference between different leukoaraiosis levels caused by different types of plaque and its composition.Results: Of these 120 cases image met the requirements, of which types I-II(19.2%),types III(42.5%), types IV-V(22.5%), types VI(10.0%), types VIII(5.8%); types VII were not found. The type of the carotid plaques on both sides we re basically identical. Type III(42.5%) occurred most commoniy. In the type of I-II and III, the level 1 leukoaraiosis had the highest incidence(63.9%); in t he type of IV-V and VI, 2-3 level leukoaraiosis had the highest incidence(89.5%). Of the 120 patients, thin fibrous caps and ruptured fibrous caps accounted for 25.0%, lipid-rich necrotic cores accounted for 32.5%, intraplaque haemorrh age accounted for 8.3%. A significant difference(P<0.05) between the atheroma tous plaques and the range of severity of LA.Conclusion: The unstable plaques are well related with the leukoaraiosis. We can reliably indenty the morphologic features of the unstable plaque. The lipid-rich necrotic cores and leukoaraiosis were positively correlated.