Prevalence of High-Risk CTA-Based Carotid Plaque-RADS Subtypes in Patients With Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source

BACKGROUND: A modified computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based Carotid Plaque Reporting and Data System (Plaque-RADS) classification was applied to a cohort of patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source to test whether high-risk Plaque-RADS subtypes are more prevalent on the ipsilateral side of stroke. With the widespread use of CTA for stroke evaluation, a CTA-based Plaque-RADS would be valuable for generalizability. METHODS: irrespective of plaque thickness. High-risk plaque subtypes (Plaque-RADS 3 and 4) were compared with low-risk subtypes (Plaque-RADS 1 and 2). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid plaque ipsilateral to the stroke side was significantly associated with CTA-based high-risk Plaque-RADS subtypes in an embolic stroke of undetermined source cohort. A CTA-based Plaque-RADS classification may be useful for identifying potentially causative carotid plaque phenotypes in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source.