颈动脉易损性斑块破裂导致脑卒中：超声造影揭示全过程

The patient in this case was initially admitted to the hospital due to neurological symptoms. During routine ultrasound examination, we observed a slightly low echogenic plaque with luminal stenosis at the origin of the right carotid artery, and a suspicious low echogenicity at the distal end of the plaque which showed slight oscillation with arterial pulsation. Additionally, color Doppler imaging showed a suspicious filling defect. Therefore, we highly suspected acute thrombus formation and performed contrast-enhanced ultrasound after obtaining the patient's informed consent. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound not only confirmed the unenhanced floating thrombus at the distal end of the plaque, but also revealed small ulcers and abundant neovascularization within the plaque that were not visible on routine ultrasound. This case of contrast-enhanced ultrasound demonstrated the entire process of vulnerable carotid plaque rupture leading to stroke.