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Ultrasonic Characterization of Carotid Plaques and Its Clinical Implications

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Noninvasive Vascular Diagnosis

Abstract

In the last years, the concepts of plaque vulnerability, composition of the plaque, and ­cerebrovascular events have been vastly studied. The gray scale median (GSM) score has been proposed with the intent of identifying asymptomatic patients at high risk of stroke.

Several studies demonstrated the relationship between carotid plaque echolucency ­evaluated by GSM, hs-CRP, carotid plaque infiltration by macrophage, neovascularization, plaque rupture, embolic load to the brain, and eventually risk of stroke.

The GSM analysis has been included in the current guidelines for treatment of patients with carotid stenoses, both with endovascular and surgical approach.

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Correspondence to Giorgio M. Biasi M.D. .

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Froio, A., Rossi, L., Pasquadibisceglie, S., Biasi, G.M. (2013). Ultrasonic Characterization of Carotid Plaques and Its Clinical Implications. In: AbuRahma, A., Bandyk, D. (eds) Noninvasive Vascular Diagnosis. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4005-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4005-4_11

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