Carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with transient ischemic attacks and stroke have unstable characteristics compared with plaques in asymptomatic and amaurosis fugax patients

Plaque phenotype of patients with TIA is comparable to that of patients with stroke; whereas, the plaque phenotype of patients with AFX resembles the plaque phenotype of asymptomatic patients. Follow-up studies should be encouraged to determine whether plaque characteristics visualized by imaging techniques might help to identify patients most likely to benefit from CEA.