MRI-plaqueimaging detects carotid plaques with a high risk for future cerebrovascular events

Background: High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) represents a new technique for risk classification of carotid plaque features. MRI-Plaqueimaging allows categorization of carotid artery stenosis (CS) in distinct lesion types (I-VIII) according to a modified histological scheme based on American Heart Association (AHA) criteria. Lesion types IV-V and VI are regarded as high risk, rupture prone plaques. The aim of this study was to prospectivly investigate wether MRI-plaque imaging can identify patients with initially asymptomatic, high-risk CS who have an increased risk for future cerebral events. Met…