Right Carotid Artery Plaque Rupture: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

To summarize, the patient was diagnosed with a ruptured vulnerable plaque with ulcer formation in the right carotid artery, accompanied by a free-floating thrombus and moderate stenosis at the start of the right internal carotid artery. This diagnosis was confirmed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound, DSA, and CTA. The patient also had an acute lacunar infarction in the right caput nuclei caudate, which suggested a connection between the cerebrovascular event and the plaque rupture and thrombus formation. The neurologist performed stent placement and balloon angioplasty, using a protective umbrella to safeguard the distal end of the patient's free-floating thrombus in the carotid artery. Following the procedure, the patient showed no new neurological symptoms and was discharged in an improved condition.