Carotid artery atherosclerosis plaque analysis using CT and histology

This research had its focus in the creation of a protocol able to diagnose atherosclerosis and to segment the atherosclerotic plaques into different tissue components. The protocol compared in vivo and in vitro Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) with histology studies. Four patients composed the data set. After the plaque samples were extracted in carotid artery endarterectomy, they were cast in paraffin, imaged, sliced and stained for the histology study. ImageJ was used to draw by hand regions of interest around the plaque, and to obtain an auto-segmentation of the plaques and their components. The final results showed a correct correlation and representation of the atherosclerotic plaque between the different modalities. The protocol and methods used in this study were confirmed as a viable way of diagnostic and follow-up of the patients suffering from atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries.