Plaque tongue in ECA

[Jo Burkett]

Hi I scanned a patient today and she had a few soft plaques as well as the one in the attached image .
There is what appears to be a plaque tongue hanging over one of the branches off the ECA. I wasn’t sure how to report this. I was concerned and informed the doctor the plaque wasn’t flapping around wondered how you would word the report?

Thanks so much in advance your help and knowledge really are invaluable!

Jo

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[Stephen Bird]

Hi Jo,

Nice image,

I would not be too concerned about this.

It is unlikely to cause any serious complication.

The plaque is most likely quite stable and as it is well into the ECA it does not provide a stroke risk.

The branch is most likely the superior thyroidal artery and if that plaque did dislodge (unlikely) it will wither be siphoned into that branch or up the ECA further, neither of which is likely to cause a significant serious problem as there is plenty of collateral reserve in both circulations.

So I would just describe it as a small, soft plaque adjacent to the origin of the superior thyroidal artery and leave it at that.

I don’t think there will be any management change based on this finding.

Great work Jo,

Steve

[Jo Burkett]

Thanks so much Steve 😊

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