Does the presence of echolucent carotid plaques causing >=50% stenosis predict future stroke?
Measurement of plaque echolucency alongside stenosis degree by Doppler ultrasound may improve patient selection for carotid endarterectomy by identifying symptomatic patients at higher risk of future stroke.
Echolucent plaques causing >/=50% diameter stenosis by Doppler ultrasound are associated with risk of future stroke in symptomatic but not asymptomatic individuals. This suggests that measurement of echolucency, together with degree of stenosis, may improve selection of patients for carotid endarterectomy.
Grønholdt et al. (2001) studied this question.