Breakthrough of dual-phase CT angiography features of carotid web and its correlation with ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic value of dual phase CT angiography (CTA) in carotid web and its correlation with ischemic stroke.

METHODS: The imaging data of 726 patients with cervical CTA from January 2015 to November 2019 in Taizhou People's hospital were retrospectively and consecutively analyzed. A total of 16 patients with 23 carotid webs were obtained. The location, morphology and clinical data of 16 patients were observed. Carotid web was identified by two experienced radioimaging experts according to the characteristics of a thin intraluminal filling defect along the posterior wall of the carotid bulb on sagittal CTA and a septum structure in arteries on axial CTA.

RESULTS: In the arterial phase, 23 carotid webs in 16 patients showed membrane like separation in the lumen of the posterior wall of the carotid bulb, and one web extended into the internal and external carotid arteries in a "Y" shape. There were 9 males and 7 females. In venous phase, 16 carotid webs showed linear enhancement, and 15 sites showed delayed emptying of contrast medium at the lateral margin. Five patients were acute or chronic ischemic stroke. The kappa coefficient for interobserver agreement in diagnosing carotid web was 0.79.

CONCLUSION: Dual-phase CTA is effective and reliable method to identifying carotid webs, which may be associated with ischemic stroke.