Atherosclerotic plaque features relevant to rupture-risk detected by clinical photon-counting CT ex vivo: a proof-of-concept study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To identify subjects with rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques before thrombotic events occur is an unmet clinical need. Thus, this proof-of-concept study aims to determine which rupture-prone plaque features can be detected using clinically available photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT).

Methods

In this retrospective study, advanced atherosclerotic plaques (ex vivo, paraffin-embedded) from the Carotid Plaque Imaging Project were scanned by PCCT with reconstructed energy levels (45, 70, 120, 190 keV). Density in HU was measured in 97 regions of interest (ROIs) representing rupture-prone plaque features as demonstrated by histopathology (thrombus, lipid core, necrosis, fibrosis, intraplaque haemorrhage, calcium). The relationship between HU and energy was th

SUBMITTER: Shami A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10825079 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature