Calcified Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Is Associated Less with Ischemic Symptoms Than Is Noncalcified Plaque on MDCT

Abstract

MDCT angiography may help risk-stratify patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Extracranial carotid artery calcified plaques causing stenosis are significantly less likely to be symptomatic and thus may be more stable than noncalcified plaques. This finding may have implications for the interpretation of calcification of atherosclerotic plaque in other vascular beds.