Atherosclerosis: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Also written as: atherosclerotic plaque, atheroma, atherosclerotic calcification, atheromatous disease

Atherosclerosis is a build-up of fatty, often calcified plaque in artery walls. It is very common with age and is linked to heart and stroke risk.

What it means

Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Over the years, fat, cholesterol, cells and calcium can collect in their walls as plaque. Calcium looks bright white on CT and X-ray, so radiologists often notice it on scans done for other reasons. On ultrasound, for example of the neck arteries, plaque shows as a thickened part of the wall that may narrow the vessel.

When it matters

Some plaque is very common in older adults. Its main meaning is about future risk of heart attack and stroke, not an immediate problem. Your doctor may check blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and talk about smoking and exercise. Plaque that narrows an artery a lot, such as in the neck or legs, may need a dedicated scan to measure the narrowing. Plaque in the heart arteries can be measured with a calcium score.

Questions to ask your doctor

Which arteries show plaque, and is any of it narrowing blood flow?
Should my cholesterol, blood pressure or blood sugar be checked?
Would a coronary calcium score help estimate my heart risk?

General information, not medical advice. What a finding means for you depends on your symptoms, your history and the images themselves, so talk your results through with a doctor.