ULTRASONOGRAPHIC CAROTID PLAQUE MORPHOLOGY IN PREDICTING STROKE RISK

A number of new studies have provided evidence which suggests that car otid plaque surface characteristics and internal structure, as seen on ultrasonography, contribute to the development of cerebrovascular end points. This review is a critical presentation of the evidence that ha s emerged so far supporting the hypothesis that the ultrasonsgraphic m orphology of the carotid plaque may be an independent variable in pred icting the risk of stroke. It is concluded that ultrasonographic plaqu e morphology should be used together with other local risk factors in prospective natural history studies which aim to identify a subgroup o f patients at high risk of stroke.