STENOSING DISEASES OF THE MAJOR CEREBRAL ARTERIES: PATHOGENESIS, PLAQUE VULNERABILITY, AND MODERN APPROACHES TO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Keywords:
atherosclerosis, carotid stenosis, intracranial atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, vascular imaging.Abstract
Stenotic atherosclerotic disease of the major cerebral arteries is a major cause of ischemic stroke. Current evidence indicates that the risk of cerebrovascular events depends not only on the degree of stenosis but also on plaque morphology and biological activity. Advances in vascular imaging, including duplex ultrasound, CT angiography, and high-resolution vessel wall MRI, have improved risk assessment. Contemporary management combines intensive medical therapy with individualized revascularization strategies. This review summarizes current knowledge on the pathogenesis, imaging, and treatment of stenotic diseases of the major cerebral arteries.
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