The utility of 4D Flow MRI blood flow analysis in patients with cervical carotid artery stenosis

Motivation: Turbulence at the site of carotid artery stenosis is believed to contribute to plaque formation and rupture, but it has not been thoroughly studied in vivo. Goal(s): We aimed to assess and elucidate the characteristics of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) measurements derived from 4D Flow MRI. Approach: We compared TKE obtained from 4D Flow MRI to conventional clinical markers evaluated by MRI and ultrasonography parameters. Results: TKE measurements demonstrated high inter-rater reliability. Significant correlations were observed between TKE, the degree of stenosis, intima-media thickness (IMT), and plaque intensity. Impact: In cases of carotid artery stenosis, TKE measured by 4D Flow MRI may serve as a parameter for characterizing the pathology of carotid artery stenosis and risk stratification.