Figure 2

MR images of a 74 year old asymptomatic patient with a 80% carotid stenosis in his right internal carotid artery (ICA; ECA = external carotid artery). Cross- sectional MR images show a large eccentric plaque in the right ICA with a large necrotic core without intraplaque hemorrhage (arrow), which is covered by a thick layer of dense and loos fibrous tissue, which can be depicted on PD- and T2w- images as a hyperintense region near the lumen surface which shows moderate contrast enhancement on the CE-T1w images. The plaque is classified as an American Heart Association Lesion Type IV/V with a thick fibrous cap.