From CTA to 3D modelling: A computational framework for morphometrical assessment and biomechanical analysis of atherosclerotic carotid arteries

Background: Ischemic stroke is a major cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries is an established predictor of these events. Ideally, patient-specific prevention plans can be developed that target advanced plaque development prior to events. Morphometry of advanced calcified plaque phenotypes can be assessed through...

Morphological Subtypes of Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Arteriosclerosis and the Risk of Stroke

Background: Accumulating evidence highlights the existence of distinct morphological subtypes of intracranial carotid arteriosclerosis. So far, little is known on the prevalence of these subtypes and subsequent stroke risk in the general population. We determined the prevalence of morphological subtypes of intracranial arteriosclerosis and...

SPECT/CT imaging of inflammation and calcification in human carotid atherosclerosis to identify the plaque at risk of rupture

Background: Calcification and inflammation are atherosclerotic plaque compositional biomarkers that have both been linked to stroke risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate their co-existing prevalence in human carotid plaques with respect to plaque phenotype to determine the value of hybrid imaging for the detection of these biomarkers....

Calcification & Fibrous Tissue Characteristics in Atherosclerotic Plaques: A Combined Analysis and Modeling Approach

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is the main cause of acute myocardial infarction and stroke, the two leading causes of death worldwide. Rupture of plaque tissue is a mechanical event, where plaque stress or strain locally exceeds its strength. Biomechanical studies agree with histopathological findings that a large lipid pool and thin fibrous cap...

Tissue characterization with depthresolved attenuation coefficient and backscatter term in intravascular optical coherence tomography images

An important application of intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) for atherosclerotic tissue analysis is using it to estimate attenuation and backscatter coefficients. This work aims at exploring the potential of the attenuation coefficient, a proposed backscatter term, and image intensities in distinguishing different...