Morphology of Advanced Symptomatic Cerebral Plaques With High Embolic Potential
The study is to attain early recognition of the unstable plaques which have an imminent embolic risk in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease (IAD).
• Inclusion Criteria for the Symptomatic Group:
‣ Patient is 30 to 85 years of age, inclusive.
⁃ Patients who have an acute infarct in diffusion-weighted MRI compatible with artery-to-artery thrombo-embolism, a relevant intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis ≥60%, and MES detected by TCD.
⁃ Patient who has no contra-indication for the proposed imaging tests.
⁃ Patient understands the purpose and requirements of the study, and has provided an informed consent.
• Inclusion Criteria for the Asymptomatic Group:
‣ Patient is 30 to 85 years of age, inclusive.
⁃ Patient who has a high-grade (\>60%) intracranial stenosis (signal void in MR angiography) but without infarct in the corresponding vascular territory in DWI or T2-weighted sequence.
⁃ Patient has no MES detected on TCD examination.
⁃ Patient who has no contra-indication for the proposed imaging tests.
⁃ Patient understands the purpose and requirements of the study, and has provided an informed consent.