Photon-Counting CT Versus Conventional CT for Carotid Plaque Assessment in Patients With Carotid Artery Stenosis

This prospective observational study aims to compare photon-counting detector computed tomography angiography (PCD-CTA) with conventional energy-integrating detector computed tomography angiography (EID-CTA) for the assessment of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with carotid artery stenosis.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older. * Patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque or carotid artery stenosis. * Patients scheduled to undergo carotid artery stenting. * Patients undergoing preprocedural carotid CTA examination. * Ability to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Known allergy to iodinated contrast material. * Severe renal insufficiency or other contraindications to contrast-enhanced CT. * Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy. * Severe motion or other artifacts resulting in nondiagnostic image quality. * Incomplete clinical or imaging data.