Magnetic resonance angiography for the prediction of carotid atherosclerotic plaque formation

Motivation: Ischemic stroke has a high incidence, disability, and mortality rate. Carotid atherosclerotic plaques are the main cause of cerebral ischemic events. Goal(s): To investigate how variations in carotid artery structure influence local hemodynamics, and which plays a key role in the development of carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Approach: 4D flow MRI and 3D TOF-MRA were utilized to develop geometric, hemodynamic, and combined models for predicting carotid atherosclerotic plaque formation and assessing model performance. Results: It is shown that the geometric structure and hemodynamics of carotid play a key role in the formation of carotid atherosclerotic plaque. Impact: Ischemic stroke has high incidence, disability and mortality rate that is often caused by carotid plaques. Variations in carotid geometry impact local hemodynamics, influencing atherosclerotic plaque formation. 4D flow MRI and 3D TOF-MRA provide a non-invasive, quantitative assessment of these characteristics.