对颈动脉粥样硬化溃疡斑块内超声造影的定量研究

目的 了解颈动脉粥样硬化溃疡斑块内新生血管的血流动力学定量特点。方法 将颈动脉粥样硬化易损斑块患者按有无临床缺血症状分为症状组与非症状组,比较两组患者溃疡斑块发生率;对易损斑块进行超声造影检查,比较溃疡斑块和非溃疡斑块的造影剂到达时间、达峰时间、斑块内新生血管增强密度和斑块峰值强度/颈动脉管腔峰值强度比值差异。分析两组斑块血流动力学特点及斑块内新生血管的定量特征。结果 入组41例患者,共有48个易损斑块。症状组溃疡斑块发生率为68.2%,无症状组溃疡斑块发生率为38.5%,差异有统计学意义（P <0.05）。超声造影检查显示溃疡斑块组造影剂到达时间、斑块内新生血管增强密度和斑块峰值强度/颈动脉管腔峰值强度比值较非溃疡斑块组差异有统计学意义（7.21±2.17 s vs 10.32±3.17 s,P <0.05;15.1±6.4 dB vs 11.3±5.1 dB,P <0.05;0.64±0.17 vs 0.47±0.21,P <0.05)。结论 缺血症状组溃疡斑块的发生率较高;溃疡斑块组的新生血管密度高于非溃疡斑块组。     

Carotid endarterectomy: Trials and tribulations

Since its introduction 40 years ago, the value of carotid endarterectomy has been controversial. In the early 1980s, several clinical trials were initiated to determine the efficacy of this operation in patients with carotid stenoses who were either symptomatic or asymptomatic for retinal or hemispheric ischemia. In 1991, interim results were published for the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) and the European Carotid Surgery Trial (ECST), both reporting efficacy for surgery in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis of greater than 70%. Subgroup analyses revealed variable risk groups. The Veterans Administration (VA) Symptomatic Trial (Cooperative Studies Program 309 of the Department of Veterans Affairs) terminated early because of these results and its findings were consistent with the results of the larger trials. NASCET and ECST continue for symptomatic patients with carotid stenoses between 30% and 69%. The results of three trials in asymptomatic patients, the Mayo asymptomatic trial, the Carotid Artery Stenosis with Asymptomatic Narrowing: Operation Versus Aspirin trial, and the VA Asymptomatic Trial (Cooperative Studies Protocol 167 of the Department of Veterans Affairs), have been reported. None showed a statistically significant benefit for surgery in the prevention of stroke or death. However, none was sufficiently large to exclude such a benefit. The large Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study is in progress. Differences in the results and design of these trials are discussed as are restrictions in the applicability of their results.     

短暂性脑缺血发作、单/多发腔隙性脑梗死患者血纤维蛋白原水平与颈动脉及下肢动脉粥样硬化的相关性研究

目的探讨短暂性脑缺血发作（transient ischemic attack,TIA）、单/多发腔隙性脑梗死患者颈动脉及下肢动脉粥样硬化情况,明确血纤维蛋白原水平对颈动脉及下肢动脉粥样硬化的影响。方法对178例短暂性脑缺血发作、单/多发腔隙性脑梗死患者进行颈动脉及下肢动脉彩色多普勒超声检查,记录颈动脉及下肢动脉粥样硬化斑块的部位、大小、数目、回声、动脉分叉处内膜中层厚度（inti ma-media thickness,I MT）及血管内径,并测量血压及纤维蛋白原测定。结果颈动脉粥样硬化斑块位于颈总动脉分叉处最多（占58.3%）。I MT≥1.2mm组血纤维蛋白原水平显著高于I MT〈1.2mm组（P〈0.05）。下肢动脉粥样硬化位于股动脉最多（占49.6%）,I MT≥1.2mm组血纤维蛋白原水平显著高于I MT〈1.2mm组（P〈0.05）。高水平纤维蛋白原组（≥3.0g/L）易损斑块数量明显增多（P≤0.05）。颈动脉I MT与患者收缩压、舒张压以及纤维蛋白原水平呈正相关（r=4.89、5.37、6.47,P均〈0.05）,下肢动脉I MT与血糖及纤维蛋白原水平呈正相关（r=4.83、5.38、6.68,P均〈0.05）。结论血纤维蛋白原水平与短暂性脑缺血发作、单/多发腔隙性脑梗死患者颈动脉及下肢动脉粥样硬化程度呈正相关。     

Three-dimensional ultrasound observation of carotid artery plaque ulceration

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Carotid artery plaque ulceration is associated with an increased risk of cerebral embolism. However, because of the rather poor diagnostic quality of conventional 2-D ultrasound and angiography compared with the evaluation of pathological specimens, little information exists on the natural course of carotid plaque ulceration. Recently, the introduction of 3-D ultrasound has made reproducible investigation of plaque morphology possible, providing a reliable plaque surface analysis. METHODS: We performed 3-D ultrasound examinations of 17 carotid artery plaques with an ulcerated surface in a prospective study of 16 patients (10 men, 6 women; mean+/-SD age 68.9+/-7.1 years) over a mean observation period of 17.6+/-6.3 months. Exactly parallel B-mode ultrasound scans (slice distance 0.1 mm) were acquired with a 5-MHz linear array probe clamped in a carriage device and driven by a mechanical step motor. The recorded images were reconstructed into a volumetric data set in a Cartesian coordinate system. RESULTS: At the end of the observation period, surface configuration had changed in 4 cases (23.5%). Plaque ulceration regressed in 3 cases, whereas ulcer progression occurred in 1 case. The remaining 13 plaques (76. 5%) showed an unchanged surface configuration. CONCLUSIONS: Through the use of 3-D ultrasound, it is possible to noninvasively examine the regression and progression of carotid artery plaque ulceration.     

Preoperative B-mode ultrasound plaque appearance compared with carotid endarterectomy specimen histology

In carotid artery stenosis both the degree of the lesion and its plaque morphology are thought to be associated with the carrier's thromboembolic risk. In this study we evaluated the diagnostic preciseness of non-invasively B-mode ultrasound in predicting the histopathological plaque structure. We examined 44 patients with > 50% ICA stenosis by B-mode within 6 weeks prior to carotid endarterectomy. At the affected bifurcations, up to 10 different regions of interest (ROI) per artery were investigated. Plaque appearance was classified according to 6 subtypes considering different ultrasonic plaque features. Postoperatively, plaque specimens were examined histopathologically for their relative content of calcification, fibrous tissue and different soft tissue. B-mode ultrasound was compared with histopathological features in ROI. A total of 265 regions of interest were evaluated. In mainly echolucent types of plaques, atheromatous debris was most frequently seen, whereas fibrosis was rare. Homogeneous echolucent plaques showed a high proportion of cholesterol and/or recent haemorrhage. Thrombosis at the plaque surface was often seen in "completely echolucent" plaque type (each P<0.001). Carotid B-mode ultrasonography is able to predict the histopathological components and the texture of carotid plaques.     

前循环梗死/短暂性脑缺血发作患者血纤维蛋白原水平与颈动脉粥样硬化的相关性研究

摘要】 目的 分析前循环梗死/短暂性脑缺血发作（transient ischemic attack,TIA）患者颈动脉粥样硬化情况,明确血纤维蛋白原水平对颈动脉粥样硬化的影响。 方法 对69例前循环梗死/短暂性脑缺血发作患者进行颈动脉彩色多普勒超声检查,记录颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的部位、大小、数目、回声、颈总动脉分叉处内膜中层厚度（intima-media thickness,IMT）及血管内径,并测量首次血压、美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale,NIHSS）、纤维蛋白原测定及D-二聚体。 结果 颈动脉粥样硬化斑块位于颈总动脉分叉处最多（占52.29%）。IMT≥0.9&#8197;mm组血纤维蛋白原水平显著高于IMT<0.9&#8197;mm组（P<0.05）。中、高浓度纤维蛋白原组（≥3.0&#8197;g/L）易损斑块数量明显增多,且较低浓度组IMT明显增厚（P<0.01）,两组D-二聚体比较有统计学意义（P<0.05）。颈动脉平均IMT与患者收缩压、舒张压以及纤维蛋白原水平密切相关（r=4.92、5.26、6.68,P均<0.05） 结论 作为卒中患者的重要危险因素之一,血纤维蛋白原水平与前循环梗死/短暂性脑缺血发作患者颈动脉粥样硬化程度密切相关。     

The value of carotid Doppler ultrasound in asymptomatic extracranial arterial disease

Carotid Doppler is an accurate, safe and repeatable method of assessing arterial calibre, for distinguishing harmless neck bruits and to identify the stroke prone individual. It is completely non-invasive and can be used serially to monitor progression in carotid stenosis. It is a valuable clinical tool in diagnosis and management in patients at risk of stroke, but has definite limitations, such as in differentiating carotid occlusion from severe stenosis. B-mode imaging, although valuable in identifying arterial anatomy, and detecting plaques, cannot accurately evaluate the degree of stenosis. It is of limited value in identifying plaque hemorrhage and ulceration. Doppler ultrasound technology has advanced rapidly in the last decade, especially in the combination of B-mode imaging and Doppler (Duplex), as well as in evaluating of the intracranial circulation (transcranial Doppler). In the next decade, it may become the new gold standard for evaluating the extracranial and intracranial circulation.     

Shrinkage of carotid plaque in a patient with transient ischemic attack]

A 65-year-old man visited to our hospital, because he felt dull pain on the right side of the neck and had transient weakness of the left hand repeatedly. Carotid ultrasonography revealed a large plaque with severe stenosis and ulceration at the bifurcation of right common carotid artery. The plaque was mostly hypoechoic and only the basal part was hyperechoic. Magnetic resonance (MR) study showed multiple high-intensity spots in superficial borderzone area of the right cerebral hemisphere on fluid attenuated inversion recovery images, although diffusion-weighted images revealed no abnormality. Intracranial stenotic lesion was not detected by MR angiography. We diagnosed transient ischemic attacks due to right carotid artery stenosis. Nine days after the symptom onset, he showed no signs of cerebral ischemic attacks and seven days later he began taking aspirin and remained stable. Three months later, carotid ultrasonography showed marked shrinkage of the carotid plaque, of which hypoechoic part virtually disappeared. Release of the atheroma gruel and/or intraplaque hemorrhage due to plaque rupture might lead to dramatic change of the carotid plaque.     

Comparison of the ECST, CC, and NASCET grading methods and ultrasound for assessing carotid stenosis

We compared three angiographic methods for grading of carotid stenosis and examined the correlation between angiographic and ultrasound findings. Two observers independently measured 111 carotid stenoses on arteriographic films of 84 patients. The stenoses were graded according to the European Carotid Surgery Trial (ECST), North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET), and Common Carotid (CC) methods. The results obtained by these methods were compared, and the interobserver reproducibility of the measurements was calculated. In addition, all angiographic results were compared to ultrasound findings obtained before angiography. Measurements using the CC method were the most reproducible and those using the NASCET method the least. The NASCET method underestimated the degree of stenosis compared to the other methods. The ECST and CC methods yielded almost identical results (97% agreement). Ultrasound provided an accuracy of 94% compared to ECST and CC methods and 84% compared to the NASCET method. Interobserver reproducibility of angiographic quantification of carotid stenoses was best for the CC and ECST methods and least for the NASCET method. Ultrasound demonstrated better accuracy than the ECST and CC methods. Received: 7 April 1999/Received in revised form: 5 October 1999/Accepted: 11 April 2000     

Comparison of ultrasound and IV-DSA for carotid evaluation

Sixty carotid bifurcations in 34 symptomatic patients were examined prospectively with ultrasound (continuous wave Doppler and high resolution, B-mode imaging) and intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV-DSA). The overall quality of examination was better with DSA than with ultrasound. Imaging of the external carotid artery was particularly difficult with sonography. For evaluation of the common and internal carotid arteries, eight percent of IV-DSA studies were poor or inadequate as compared with 12% for B-mode imaging. Overall for detection of atherosclerotic plaque, high resolution B-mode sonography was 84% sensitive and DSA 81% sensitive. When only the common and internal carotid arteries were considered, the sensitivity of high resolution sonography improved to 93% and the sensitivity of IV-DSA increased to 86%. Ultrasound (combined high resolution, B-mode sonography and CW Doppler) correctly identified all six internal carotid occlusions in the series. While IV-DSA correctly identified five of the six occlusions, the sensitivity for detection of lesions causing 70% or more stenosis was 95% for both ultrasound and IV-DSA. Sensitivity for 50% or greater obstruction was 79% for ultrasound and 85% for IV-DSA. Ultrasound sensitivity for greater than 50.9% stenoses rose to 87% when only the common and internal carotid were considered while IV-DSA sensitivity remained at 85%. Specificity was good at all levels of obstruction. It may be concluded from this study that the accuracy of ultrasound and IV-DSA are quite similar for evaluation of the carotid bifurcation and that either test is a satisfactory screening method for carotid bifurcation atheromatous disease.     

Smoking habit as a putative risk factor for carotid plaque ulcers

Carotid plaque ulcers are thought to represent a cause for ischemic stroke. However, largely because the lack of reliable diagnostic methods, factors predisposing plaques to ulceration are not known. Based on ultrasound appearances, this study examined associations between carotid ulcers and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The subjects comprised 1076 patients with carotid plaques as evidenced by ultrasound. Carotid ulcers were diagnosed by the presence of large obvious excavation (≥ 2 mm in depth) on the plaque surface, with a well-defined back wall at its base. As a putative associate for ulcers, severity of plaques was quantified by the plaque score. Prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors was generally higher in patients with ulcers (n = 52) than in those not, so was average plaque score. When controlling for plaque score, smoking habit was found to be associated with 2.2 (95% CI: 1.1 to 4.6) fold higher likelihood for the existence of ulcers. We propose a possible role of smoking habit for the ulceration of carotid plaques.     

Prospective study on the complication rate of carotid surgery

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials of carotid endarterectomy for high-grade stenosis have shown a benefit for surgery under the condition of low perioperative complication rates. Concerns have been expressed that the complication rates of carotid surgery are higher in everyday practice and may vary considerably between centers. We prospectively established the complication rate for carotid surgery in a single institution. DESIGN: Prospective 2-year study. All patients received pre- and postoperative neurological evaluation. Laboratory tests included pre- and postoperative brain imaging, intracranial and neck vessel sonography, conventional angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and intraoperative monitoring. PARTICIPANTS: 108 consecutive patients: 54 symptomatic patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria of the European Carotid Surgery Trial (ECST) and 54 asymptomatic patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria of the North American Trial on Asymptomatic Stenoses (ACAS). SETTING: Single academic center with a high volume of carotid endarterectomies (>50 per year). Participating center in ECST. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stroke or death as defined in the randomized trials. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 8.3% (95% CI 4.1-15.6%). Complications were more frequent in patients with symptomatic stenosis (11.1%, CI 4.6-23.3%) than in asymptomatic cases (5.6%, CI 1.5-16.4%). Three patients died (2 strokes, 1 myocardial infarction). Disabling strokes were found in 2 patients (Rankin scale scores 3 and 4). Nondisabling strokes (Rankin scale score 1 and 2) occurred in 4 patients. The complication rates for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were higher than the ones reported in the randomized trials, but 95% confidence intervals showed that the differences were not statistically significant. The point estimates of complication rates still supported a benefit of surgery for patients with symptomatic stenosis, but denied a positive effect of endarterectomy for patients with asymptomatic stenosis. CONCLUSION: In this center, a beneficial effect of carotid surgery for asymptomatic stenoses cannot be safely assumed.     

Emboligenic ulcerated plaque of the foramen of the vertebral artery

Atheromatous plaques of the vertebral artery ostium are usually smooth and cause hemodynamic ischemia in the vertebro-basilar territory only when stenosis is severe. A case of crescendo vertebro-basilar attacks is reported and related to an ulcerated plaque of the vertebral artery ostium. The patient underwent surgical endarterectomy after failure of an antiplatelet treatment. He has remained asymptomatic for six months. Diagnosis of vertebral artery ulceration is difficult by ultrasonics or digitalized arteriography because of the small diameter of the vessel and its posterior origin. The frequency of ulcerated plaques of the subclavio-vertebral intersection is probably underestimated in the literature Labauge et al. (1987) emphasized recently the risk of cerebellar infarction during the natural history of vertebral artery occlusion. Crescendo vertebro-basilar transient ischemic attacks can be caused by a plaque rupture of of the vertebral ostium which leads secondarily to vertebral artery occlusion. Therapeutic options for atheromatous lesions of the posterior circulation are not clearly defined by controlled studies. In the reported case and in series reported in the literature, surgery would appear to be an efficient procedure with low mortality and morbidity.     

脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块形成的研究

目的 探讨脑梗死(CI)患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块形成的状况.方法 对138例CI患者行颈动脉彩色多普勒超声检查,观察其颈动脉斑块形成、性质及部位,并与正常对照组比较.结果 CI组138例中120例(87.7%)检出颈动脉粥样硬化斑块175块,正常对照组140人检出斑块为36人(25.7%)(P＜0.01).CI组中不稳定性斑块比率(80.8%)显著高于稳定性斑块(19.2%)(P＜0.01);斑块位于颈总动脉(CCA)(81.1%)显著高于颈内动脉(ICA)(18.9%)(P＜0.01);位于CCA分叉处(66.3%)又显著高于主干(14.9%)(P＜0.05).结论 CI患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的发生率高,多位于CCA分叉处,且大多为不稳定性斑块.提示CI与颈动脉粥样硬化有密切关系.     

Indium-111-labeled platelet scintigraphy in carotid atherosclerosis

We evaluated platelet accumulation in carotid arteries by means of a dual-radiotracer method, using indium-111-labeled platelets and technetium-99m-labeled human serum albumin, in 123 patients (92 men, 31 women; median age 60 years). Sixty patients had symptoms of transient ischemic carotid artery disease, and 63 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease served as controls. Antiplatelet treatment with acetylsalicylic acid was taken by 53 of the 123 patients. In 36 of the 60 symptomatic patients, platelet scintigraphy was repeated 3-4 days after carotid endarterectomy. Comparison of different scintigraphic parameters (platelet accumulation index and percent of the injected dose of labeled platelets at the carotid bifurcation) showed no significant differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, and the severity of stenosis and the presence of plaque ulceration also had no influence on the parameters. There was no difference between patients with a short (less than 4 weeks) or long (greater than 4 weeks) interval from the last transient ischemic attack to scintigraphy and no difference between patients with or without antiplatelet treatment. Classifying the patients according to plaque morphology judged by high-resolution real-time ultrasonography also demonstrated no differences. No significant correlation was found between any scintigraphic parameter and other platelet function parameters such as platelet survival time, platelet turnover rate, and concentration of platelet-specific proteins. Quantification of platelet deposition after carotid endarterectomy in 36 patients demonstrated a significant increase of the median platelet accumulation index and the percent injected dose index. There were no significant differences between patients receiving high-dose (1.0 g/day) or low-dose (1.0 g/day) acetylsalicylic acid in scintigraphic results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Protective effects of connexins in atheromatous plaques in patients of carotid artery stenosis

Fragility of atheromatous plaque in the internal carotid artery can be a risk of brain infarction. The activation of macrophages by oxidative stress and the vulnerability of vascular endothelial cells have been reported to participate in the fragility of atheromatous plaque. Therefore, from the view point of prevention of brain infarction, we investigated the pathological factors which may influence the stabilization of atheromatous plaque. Patients undertaking carotid endoarterectomy (CEA) were continuously screened. Then, 21 samples were obtained from the atheromatous plaques of CEA patients. The expression of connexin (Cx) which composes a gap junction, an intercellular communication organ, was immunohistochemicaly observed. The expression of CD36, an oxidized low‐density lipoprotein receptor, was assessed as a marker of oxidative stress. As a result, asymptomatic plaques which were assumed the stable plaques expressed Cx43 along with CD36 expression. In contrast, in the symptomatic plaques, the expression of Cx43 was few and there was almost no coexpression with CD36. The distribution of Cx37 expression was not different between asymptomatic and symptomatic plaques. The expressions of CD36, Cx37 and Cx43 showed no relation to the previous treatment with statins. In conclusion, Cx43 might contribute to the stabilization of atheromatous plaque which is affected by oxidative stress.     

The Role of Neurosonology in the Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Carotid Artery Disease: A Review

Carotid artery disease (CAD) is a common cause of ischemic stroke with high rates of recurrence. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) are highly recommended for the secondary prevention of symptomatic CAD during the first 14 days following the index event of transient ischemic attack or minor stroke. CEA or CAS may also be offered in selected cases with severe asymptomatic stenosis. Herein, we review the utility of neurosonology in the diagnosis and pre‐/peri‐interventional assessment of CAD patients who undergo carotid revascularization procedures. Carotid ultrasound may provide invaluable information on plaque echogenicity, ulceration, risk of thrombosis, and rupture. Transcranial Doppler or transcranial color‐coded sonography may further assist by mapping collateral circulation, evaluating the impairment of vasomotor reactivity, detecting microembolization, or reperfusion hemorrhage in real time. Neurosonology examinations are indispensable bedside tools assisting in the diagnosis, risk stratification, peri‐interventional monitoring, and follow‐up of patients with CAD.     

Recent concepts in the management of extracranial carotid stenosis: carotid endarterectomy versus carotid artery stenting

Carotid stenosis is seen in 10% of patients with ischemic stroke, and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are the two invasive treatments options available. Pooled analysis of the three largest randomized trials of CEA involving more than 3000 symptomatic patients estimated 30-day stroke and death rate at 7.1% after CEA. Some subgroups among the symptomatic patients appeared to have more benefit from CEA. These include patients aged 75 years or more, patients with ulcerated plaques, and patients with recent transient ischemic attacks within 2 weeks of randomization. Selection of asymptomatic patients for carotid revascularization should be guided by an assessment of comorbid conditions, life expectancy, and other individual factors, and should include a thorough discussion of the risks and benefits of the procedure with an understanding of patient preferences. The recent trials comparing CEA with CAS has not established its superiority over CEA. The carotid revascularization endarterectomy versus stenting (CREST) study showed that CAS is still associated with a higher periprocedural risk of stroke or death than CEA. In patients over 70 years of age, CEA is clearly superior to CAS. The increased risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction in the CREST group subjected to CEA clearly suggests that patients being considered for CEA or CAS require a careful preliminary cardiac evaluation. CAS can be justified for patients whose medical comorbidities or cervical anatomy make them questionable candidates for CEA. The benefit of revascularization by either method versus modern aggressive medical therapy has not been established for patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis.     

Carotid plaque features on angiography and asymptomatic cerebral microembolism

We studied 110 carotid arteries of 55 patients with unilateral or bilateral carotid stenosis diagnosed with selective angiography, by using Transcranial Doppler to detect high intensity transient signals (HITS) in the middle cerebral arteries (MCAs). HITS identified as embolic signals were prevalent ( P <0.05) in the MCAs on the same side as severe (70–99%) stenosis (22 of 51=43.1%) compared to moderate (30–69%) stenosis (5 of 37=13.5%). No HITS were observed in the MCA on the same side as normal control carotid arteries ( n =17) [occluded arteries ( n =5) were not considered]. HITS were more prevalent ( P <0.05) in the MCAs on the same side as ulcerated plaques (14 of 23=60.9%) compared to non-ulcerated plaques (13 of 65=20%), and all moderate stenoses producing HITS presented ulceration of the plaque. Ulcerated plaque groups showed a higher mean number of HITS than non-ulcerated plaque groups and no significant difference was noted between moderate and severe stenosis, between superficial or deep ulcerations and between ulcerations with flap or without flap. Therefore, severe carotid stenosis and moderate stenosis with plaque ulceration result in angiographic findings most frequently associated with HITS. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical significance of this finding.     

Measuring carotid artery stenosis

OBJECTIVE: Five different calliper methods for assessing the degree of carotid artery stenosis and visual estimation ("eyeballing") of postmortem carotid arteriograms were compared with the planimetric gold standard of the area reduction at the site of the stenosis. METHODS: During autopsy 53 carotid specimens were removed in toto from 31 neurological patients. Carotid arteries were ligated and redistended to a physiological degree for standardised three-plane arteriography. Afterwards, the entire specimen was filled with an embedding medium under the same conditions and sectioned. Slices at the site of stenoses were histologically processed. Computerised planimetric analysis of the lumen area reduction was performed and compared with the arteriographic findings. Arteriograms were evaluated by two independent observers by means of linear Common Carotid Artery (CC), the European Carotid Surgery Trial (ECST) and the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET), and squared measurements (NASCET2, ECST2) after applying the pi r2 function. Further, three independent observers performed eyeballing of the degree of stenosis from the postmortem arteriographies. RESULTS: Planimetry was carried out in 29 internal carotid artery (ICA) and 17 common carotid artery (CCA) stenoses ranging from 8.5 to 100%. The smallest mean differences of the degree of stenosis in % between planimetry and arteriography were -0.5 and 0.6%. The narrowest 95 %-limits of agreement covered a range of +/-24.1 and 26.3% of stenoses, and the highest correlation coefficients were both 0.9 for the CC and ECST2 techniques, respectively. By eyeballing, the degree of stenosis was underestimated by 13.5 to 15.8% on average. The narrowest limits of agreement between two observers for eyeballing covered a range of 35%. CONCLUSION: Three-plane arteriography has only a moderate accuracy and reproducibility in detecting and measuring carotid artery stenosis independent of the technique of measurement used.