Computed tomographic study of cervical carotid calcification

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck permits low-risk evaluation of morphologic complications of carotid plaque, including (and foremost) calcification. To investigate the patterns and clinical significance of calcified deposits in the cervical carotid arteries using computed tomography...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inStroke (1970) Vol. 20; no. 11; pp. 1472 - 1476
Main Authors CULEBRAS, A, OTERO, C, TOLEDO, J. R, RUBIN, B. S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.11.1989
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging
Carotid Artery Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Carotid Artery, Internal - diagnostic imaging
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neurology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system
Human
Brain
Nervous system diseases
Radiodiagnosis
Ischemia
Atherosclerotic plaque
Carotid
Atherosclerosis
Calcification
Complication
Computerized axial tomography
Contrast media
Cerebrovascular disease
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Summary:Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck permits low-risk evaluation of morphologic complications of carotid plaque, including (and foremost) calcification. To investigate the patterns and clinical significance of calcified deposits in the cervical carotid arteries using computed tomography we studied 40 patients with unilateral symptoms of hemispheric ischemia. Calcium deposits observed in the external, internal, and common carotid arteries were oriented in space and individually scored. We found calcified deposits in 39 patients. Stepwise multiple regression of the data provided evidence strongly suggesting a correlation between advancing age and calcium scores. Calcium was more heavily concentrated in the posterior half of arteries (p less than 0.01), in particular of the internal and common carotid arteries, and always in relation to an atheromatous plaque, suggesting a causative link to hemodynamic forces within the arteries. There was no difference in calcification scores between symptomatic and asymptomatic sides, indicating that calcium deposits do not contribute to the development of symptoms.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0039-2499
1524-4628
DOI:10.1161/01.STR.20.11.1472