Fig. 4.

Varying presentation of carotid plaques with different ratios of calcified and non-calcified components (a–d). The different panes illustrate several plaque configurations ranging from a completely non-calcified (a) to an extensively and exclusively calcified plaque (d) with different calcified/non-calcified ratios in between (b, c). Note that, independently of the plaque composition and the degree of luminal stenosis, panel a and b reveal additional ulcerations (asterisk), a plaque feature with prognostic implications which must certainly be mentioned in the report. These examples further illustrate the notion that the description of carotid plaques must extend beyond mere calculation of luminal stenosis, mentioning all relevant plaque features to provide the most complete disease assessment