Coregistration of Wall Shear Stress and Plaque Distribution Within the Thoracic Aorta of Acute Stroke Patients

Michael Markl¹, Stephanie Brendecke², Jan Simon¹, Alex Frydrychowicz³, Andreas Harloff²

Flow-sensitive 4D-MRI (3D morphology and 3-directional blood flow) and segmental wall shear stress analysis were employed in 94 patients with aortic atherosclerosis. A one-to-one comparison of wall parameter distribution with plaque location was performed in a large number of complex aortic plaques. Critical wall parameters such as low wall shear stress and high oscillatory shear index were concentrated at the inner curvature of the aorta and near the outlet of the supra-aortic arteries. For most complex plaques a consistent location of critical wall parameters in wall segments adjacent to the atheroma suggested a close correlation of hemodynamics and advanced atherosclerosis.