| Autor: |
Fernández-Alvarez V; Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes, 33394 Gijón, Spain., Linares-Sánchez M; Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes, 33394 Gijón, Spain., Suárez C; Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain., López F; Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain.; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Instituto Universitario de Oncologia del Principado de Asturias, University of Oviedo, CIBERONC, 33011 Oviedo, Spain., Guntinas-Lichius O; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany., Mäkitie AA; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 263, 00029 Helsinki, Finland.; Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.; Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden., Bradley PJ; Department of ORLHNS, Queens Medical Centre Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK., Ferlito A; Coordinator of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group, 35100 Padua, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
Carotid artery disease has traditionally been assessed based on the degree of luminal narrowing. However, this approach, which solely relies on carotid stenosis, is currently being questioned with regard to modern risk stratification approaches. Recent guidelines have introduced the concept of the "vulnerable plaque," emphasizing specific features such as thin fibrous caps, large lipid cores, intraplaque hemorrhage, plaque rupture, macrophage infiltration, and neovascularization. In this context, imaging-based biomarkers have emerged as valuable tools for identifying higher-risk patients. Non-invasive imaging modalities and intravascular techniques, including ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, and near-infrared spectroscopy, have played pivotal roles in characterizing and detecting unstable carotid plaques. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the evolving understanding of carotid artery disease and highlight the significance of imaging techniques in assessing plaque vulnerability and informing clinical decision-making. |
