A Prospective Study to Find the Relationship of Carotid Stenosis and Plaque Morphology with Infarct Volume in Ischemic Stroke Patients
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Abstract
Background: Ischemic stroke, a major global health concern, is often caused by carotid artery stenosis resulting from atherosclerotic plaque formation. Carotid Doppler ultrasonography is a non-invasive method to assess the degree of stenosis and the characteristics of plaques, which are crucial in evaluating stroke risk and guiding treatment decisions. Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between the percentage of carotid artery stenosis, plaque morphology, and infarct volume in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Subjects/Patients: Fifty patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke at the Department of Radiodiagnosis, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, between January 2019 and June 2020. Methods: Carotid Doppler ultrasound was used to quantify stenosis and classify plaques based on echogenicity, surface contour, and internal texture. Infarct volumes were measured using MRI. Statistical correlations and regression analyses were conducted to identify significant relationships. Results: Carotid stenosis was observed bilaterally in half of the cohort, with average stenosis of 62.2% (right) and 55.4% (left). A moderate positive correlation was found between stenosis percentage and infarct volume (r=0.446, p=0.035). Plaque morphology did not significantly correlate with infarct size. Regression analysis showed that age and stenosis severity accounted for 48% of infarct volume variation. Conclusion: Carotid stenosis severity is a more reliable predictor of infarct volume than plaque morphology, highlighting the value of Doppler-based stenosis assessment in ischemic stroke management.
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Copyright (c) 2025 S Thilagarajan, MD, Sumana Kedilaya, MD, Senthil Prabu M
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