颈动脉向大脑供血，颈动脉斑块是导致脑卒中（中风）-人类第二杀手 – 的主要原因之一。更多信息见：

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2011 Update (provides the latest statistics relating to cardiovascular disease, risk factors, quality of care and other topics)

斑块分析能直接分析颈动脉易损斑块，更准确评估谁是高危病人、该如何防治，及时优化地实施预防干预治疗，如颈动脉内膜剥脱、颈动脉支架、及药物治疗，有效地预防中风。更多信息见：

Histopathology of Carotid Atheroslcerotic Disease (review appearing in the journal Neurosurgery)

Composition of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Is Associated With Cardiovascular Outcome (A prognostic study published on the journal Circulation)

Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis–medical therapy alone versus medical therapy plus carotid endarterectomy or stenting (A debate on how to treat)

超声颈动脉斑块成像的验证： 我公司正在进行由美国国立卫生研究院(NIH – National Institutes of Health)资助的基于超声的斑块分析研发，并通过与MRI集成与对比，验证超声斑块成像的潜力.

核磁颈动脉斑块成像的医学应用的验证：以下是摘选的关于颈动脉斑块核磁共振成像的医学应用研究的有关文献。对所选文献如有建议，请联系我们. 

1 关于中风风险的前瞻性研究

Association between carotid plaque characteristics and subsequent ischemic cerebrovascular events: a prospective assessment with MRI–initial results. (Takaya, Stroke, 2006) PDF

Detection of intraplaque hemorrhage by magnetic resonance imaging in symptomatic patients with mild to moderate carotid stenosis predicts recurrent neurological events. (Altaf, J Vasc Surg. 2008)

Predictors of surface disruption with MR imaging in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. (Underhill, AJNR 2010) PDF

Moderate carotid artery stenosis: MR imaging-depicted intraplaque hemorrhage predicts risk of cerebrovascular ischemic events in asymptomatic men. (Singh, Radiology, 2009)

2 关于中风风险的其他研究

MR Carotid Plaque Imaging and Contrast-Enhanced MR Angiography Identifies Lesions Associated with Recent Ipsilateral Thromboembolic Symptoms: An In Vivo Study at 3T. (DeMarco, AJNR 2010) PDF

A noninvasive imaging approach to assess plaque severity: the carotid atherosclerosis score. (Underhill, AJNR 2010) PDF

Longitudinal Distribution of Mechanical Stresses in Carotid Plaques of Symptomatic Patients. (Thrysoe, Stroke. 2010)

Hemorrhage and large lipid-rich necrotic cores are independently associated with thin or ruptured fibrous caps: an in vivo 3T MRI study. (Ota, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2009) PDF

Atherosclerotic carotid vulnerable plaque and subsequent stroke: a high-resolution MRI study (Gao Cerebrovasc Dis 2009)

Utility of high resolution MR imaging to assess carotid plaque morphology: a comparison of acute symptomatic, recently symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with carotid artery disease. (Sadat, Atherosclerosis. 2009)

Characterisation of carotid atheroma in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients using high resolution MRI. (U-King-Im, J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2008)

Comparison of symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerotic carotid plaque features with in vivo MR imaging. (Saam, Radiology. 2006) PDF

Prevalence of complicated carotid atheroma as detected by magnetic resonance direct thrombus imaging in patients with suspected carotid artery stenosis and previous acute cerebral ischemia. (Murphy, Circulation. 2003) PDF

Identification of fibrous cap rupture with magnetic resonance imaging is highly associated with recent transient ischemic attack or stroke. (Yuan, Circulation. 2002) PDF

Presence of intraplaque hemorrhage stimulates progression of carotid atherosclerotic plaques: a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study. (Takaya, Circulation.2005)

3 关于系统性心血管疾病风险的研究

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance parameters of atherosclerotic plaque burden improve discrimination of prior major adverse cardiovascular events. (Mani, J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2009) PDF

Differences in carotid arterial morphology and composition between individuals with and without obstructive coronary artery disease: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study. (Underhill, J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2008) PDF

4 关于药物开发临床试验的研究

Rationale and design of the carotid plaque in human for all evaluations with aggressive rosuvastatin therapy (CHALLENGER trial): evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging (Miyauchi Circ J 2009)

Effect of rosuvastatin therapy on carotid plaque morphology and composition in moderately hypercholesterolemic patients: a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging trial. (Underhill, Am Heart J. 2008)

Testing the hypothesis of atherosclerotic plaque lipid depletion during lipid therapy by magnetic resonance imaging: study design of Carotid Plaque Composition Study. (Zhao, Am Heart J. 2007)

MRI of atherosclerosis in clinical trials (Yuan NMR Biomed 2006)

Sample size calculation for clinical trials using magnetic resonance imaging for the quantitative assessment of carotid atherosclerosis (Saam JCMR 2005)

Effects of aggressive versus conventional lipid-lowering therapy by simvastatin on human atherosclerotic lesions: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (Corti JACC 2005)

Feasibility of in vivo, multicontrast-weighted MR imaging of carotid atherosclerosis for multicenter studies (Chu JMRI 2005)

Lipid lowering by simvastatin induces regression of human atherosclerotic lesions: two years’ follow-up by high-resolution noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (Corti Circulation 2002)

5 关于特定人群的研究

Arterial remodeling in subclinical carotid artery disease (Underhill JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2010)

Geometric and compositional appearance of atheroma in an angiographically normal carotid artery in patients with atherosclerosis (Dong AJNR 2010)

Prevalence of compositional features in subclinical carotid atherosclerosis determined by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging in chinese patients with coronary artery disease (Zhao Stroke 2010)

Time-efficient patient-specific quantification of regional carotid artery fluid dynamics and spatial correlation with plaque burden (LaDisa Med Phys 2010)

Sex differences in patients with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaque: in vivo 3.0-T magnetic resonance study (Ota Stroke 2010)

Prevalence of American Heart Association type VI carotid atherosclerotic lesions identified by magnetic resonance imaging for different levels of stenosis as measured by duplex ultrasound (Saam JACC 2008)

Association of high-density lipoprotein levels and carotid atherosclerotic plaque characteristics by magnetic resonance imaging (Phan Int J Cardiovasc Imag 2007)

Predictors of carotid atherosclerotic plaque progression as measured by noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (Saam Atherosclerosis 2007)

Presence of intraplaque hemorrhage stimulates progression of carotid atherosclerotic plaques: a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study (Takaya Circulation 2005)

Carotid plaque composition differs between ethno-racial groups: an MRI pilot study comparing mainland Chinese and American Caucasian patients (Saam ATVB 2005)

Tracking regression and progression of atherosclerosis in human carotid arteries using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (Adams MRI 2004)