AUTHOR=Singh Aniruddha , Nasir Usama , Segal Jared , Waheed Tayyab Ali , Ameen Muhammad , Hafeez Hamza TITLE=The utility of ultrasound and computed tomography in the assessment of carotid artery plaque vulnerability–A mini review JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.1023562 DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2022.1023562 ISSN=2297-055X ABSTRACT=

As the burden of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events continues to increase, emerging evidence supports the concept of plaque vulnerability as a strong marker of plaque rupture, and embolization. Qualitative assessment of the plaque can identify the degree of plaque instability. Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) have emerged as safe and accurate techniques for the assessment of plaque vulnerability. Plaque features including but not limited to surface ulceration, large lipid core, thin fibrous cap (FC), intraplaque neovascularization and hemorrhage can be assessed and are linked to plaque instability.