Contrast‐enhanced transoral carotid ultrasonography for the evaluation of plaque protrusion after carotid artery stenting

A 67 year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of mild left hemiparesis and was diagnosed with cerebral infarction caused by right internal carotid artery stenosis. He was treated with dual antiplatelet therapy and scheduled for carotid artery stenting 14 days after onset. The preoperative right carotid angiogram showed 60% stenosis by the NASCET criteria, with an ulcer. The postoperative angiogram suggested protrusion in the stent, which could not be seen on conventional carotid ultrasonography because of its high location. On transoral carotid ultrasonography, clear delineation of the lesion was not possible due to color blurs. Contrast-enhanced transoral carotid ultrasonography (CETOCU) clearly demonstrated the protrusion and delineated the lumen within the stent.