Application of MSCTA in Study on the Correlation of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis and Cerebral Ischemic Stroke

Objective To investigate the application of multi-slice spiral CT angiography(MSCTA) in study on the correlation between carotid artery atherosclerosis and cerebral ischemic stroke. Methods The MSCTA imaging data of 180 patients with suspected cerebral ischemic stroke were retrospectively studied. Patients were divided into two groups: Ischemic Stroke Group(87 cases) and Non-Ischemic Stroke Group(93 cases). CTA image quality was firstly evaluated. Then, comparison between the two groups was done based on characterization of carotid plaque, location and degree of artery stenosis. Finally, logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors of ischemic stroke. Results Among 360 carotid arteries in 180 patients, two carotid arteries were unavailable for analysis in this study because of bad image quality. Altogether 358 carotid artery patients(172 patients in Ischemic Stroke Group, 186 in Non-Ischemic Stroke Group) were evaluated. There was no difference in the image quality between two groups. Severe artery stenosis was markedly different between the two groups(χ2=11.80; P=0.001). A total of 841 plaques were revealed, among which 411 plaques were found in Ischemic Stroke Group and 430 in Non-Ischemic Stroke Group. Characteristics of carotid plaque were significantly different between two groups(χ2=11.47; P=0.001). Unstable plaques in Ischemic Stroke Group were more than those of Non-Ischemic Stroke Group. Conversely, Non-Ischemic Group had more stable plaques. Logistic analysis showed that unstable plaque was the most important risk factor for cerebral ischemic stroke(P0.05). Conclusion MSCTA was a reliable imaging method for evaluating carotid artery atherosclerosis. There was significant and certain correlation between carotid artery atherosclerosis and cerebral ischemic stroke.