Table 1

Structural analysis of a cohort of carotid endarterectomy specimens

Plaque phenotypeDescriptive architectureTotal (percentage)
Ulceration
283 (82%)
Relationship to point of maximal stenosis (POMS)Upstream to POMS261 (92%)
At the POMS17 (6%)
Downstream to POMS3 (1%)
Upstream and at the POMS2 (1%)
Necrotic core exposed to the blood streamPresent161 (57%)
Absent122 (43%)
Intraplaque haemorrhage
233 (68%)
Coexistence of ulcerationYes231 (99%)
No2 (1%)
Relationship to lumenContained89 (38%)
Exposed144 (62%)
Relationship to ulcerationContiguous215 (92%)
Apart18 (8%)
N/A6
Relationship of haemorrhage to the downstream ending of a plaqueNot reaching159 (68%)
Reaching65 (28%)
Extruding beyond the plaque ending into the lumen9 (4%)
False lumen
165 (48%)
Associated with thrombusYes130 (79%)
No35 (21%)
TypeBlind ended130 (79%)
Fenestrated35 (21%)