Assessment of Carotid Geometry by Using the Contrast-enhanced MR Angiography

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the geometry of carotid artery by assessing the images of contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) and interrelationships between the geometry of carotid artery and clinical factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 216 consecutive patients who performed supraaortic CE-MRA with fast spoiled gradient-echo imaging were included. Their medical records were reviewed for variable information including risk factors predictive of generalized atherosclerotic disease (age, hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidema, and smoking), sex, body weight, height, and body mass index (BMI). We reviewed the CE-MRA with carotid origin (3 types), carotid artery tortuosity, angle of internal carotid artery bifurcation, the type of aortic arch branching, and the presence of the coiling of carotid artery. RESULTS: Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that significantly contributed clinical backgrounds for carotid origin were the age and the BMI. With an increase of age at 1, the probability that the type of carotid origin become from type 1 to type 2 was 0.9 times (p=0.004) in right carotid artery (RCA), 0.9 times (p=0.031) in left carotid artery (LCA), 0.9 times that are likely to be type3 from type 2 (p<0.001) in RCA and 0.9 times in LCA (p=0.009). Increase in BMI at 1 increased odds of becoming type 2 as 1.1 times (p=0.067) in RCA, 1.1 times (p=0.009) in LCA and increased chance of becoming type 3 as 1.2 times (p=0.001) in RCA, 1.2 times (p=0.003) in LCA. Mean value of right and left carotid tortuosity were 240.9+/-69.0degrees and 154.4+/-55.0degrees, respectively. CONCLUSION: The BMI, age, sex and presence of HTN affects the geometry of carotid arteries, the site of origin and tortuosity of carotid artery specifically.