Sites of Rupture in Human Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaques Are Associated With High Structural Stresses: An In Vivo MRI-Based 3D Fluid-Structure Interaction Study

Plaques with prior ruptures are associated with higher critical stress conditions, both at ulcer sites and when compared with nonruptured plaques, and plaque stress analysis may provide additional stress indicators helpful for image-based plaque vulnerability assessment.