A comparison of atherosclerotic lesion severity in the carotid bulb versus coronary arteries

Abstract

With recent advances in medical imaging technology, it is becoming possible to detect atherosclerotic lesions in carotid vessels with predictable certainty. The purpose of this study was to grossly compare, in the same individual, the severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid sinuses to lesions of the coronary arteries. Fifty embalmed cadavers were screened for atherosclerotic lesions of the common carotid arteries, the carotid sinus, the right coronary artery, the left coronary artery and the anterior atrioventricular coronary artery. Specimens with grossly identifiable atherosclerotic lesions were then prepared for histopathologic evaluation by standard paraffin embedding techniques. After processing, they were sectioned by microtome at five micrometers and then stained with Hemotoxylin and Eosin. Lesions were evaluated histologically and classified by both an expert histologist and a board certified pathologist using the American Heart Association plaque type classification system. A phi‐correlation was performed to detect correlations between plaque severities in multiple anatomic sites. 74% of cadavers (n=37) had detectable plaques within their carotid vessels. Statistical results suggest that plaque classification varies by region and may be predictable by individual factors.