Abstract
Stroke caused by carotid atherosclerosis is a leading cause of mortality and the leading cause of disability in the developed world. For carotid plaques within the neurovascular territory of a recent stroke or transient ischaemic attack, surgical removal of the plaque (endarterectomy) has been clearly shown to reduce future cerebrovascular events. Management of asymptomatic plaques, however, is less clear because only a minority of these plaques will ultimately become symptomatic. Inflammation is a key feature which predicts whether a plaque is likely to rupture and hence lead to stroke. By identifying inflammation in vivo, positron emission tomography (PET) may be able to identify high risk plaques. This will allow clinicians to target intensive medical or surgical treatment to high risk patients.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.