Objective  To investigate the value of multi-slice spiral CT angiography (MSCTA) in evaluating the morphological characteristics of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with intracranial ischemic changes.

  Methods   A total of 40 patients with intracranial ischemic changes who underwent carotid artery MSCTA examination were retrospectively selected as study group, and 40 cases patients without intracranial ischemic changes during the same period who underwent MSCTA examination were selected as control group. The degree of carotid artery stenosis, detection rate of carotid atherosclerotic plaque, plaque shape, intraplaque ulcer, positive rate of ring sign, reconstruction rate of carotid artery of two groups were compared. The rate of poor prognosis in the study group was recorded. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the value of carotid artery MSCTA examination results in independently evaluating the risk of poor prognosis.

  Results   Compared with the control group, the proportion of patients with moderate to severe carotid stenosis, the detection rate of carotid atherosclerotic plaque, the rate of irregular plaque, the rate of ulcer plaque, the positive rate of ring sign, and carotid artery remodeling rate in the study group were higher, while the proportions of patients with mild stenosis and without stenosis were lower (P < 0.05). The rate of poor prognosis in the study group was 27.50% (11/40). In the study group, MSCTA examination results showed significant difference in patients with good prognosis and those with poor prognosis (P < 0.05). Logisticregression analysis showed that MSCTA examination results in the study group can effectively and independently assess the risk of poor prognosis.

  Conclusion   MSCTA can effectively assess the morphological characteristics of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and the degree of carotid artery stenosis in patients with intracranial ischemic changes, and the MSCTA examination results of MSCTA can independently assess the risk of poor prognosis.