Carotid atherosclerosis is a major cause of ischemic stroke, historically managed according to luminal stenosis severity. However, stenosis alone fails to capture plaque biology, as features such as intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), lipid-rich necrotic core, fibrous cap rupture, ulceration, and perivascular inflammation strongly influence vulnerability and clinical outcomes. Advances in imaging have shifted the focus from lumen quantification to multimodal plaque phenotyping. Ultrasound, computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), digital subtraction angiography, photon-counting CT (PCCT), and positron emission tomography (PET) provide complementary morphological and biological information, while contrast-enhanced ultrasound, radiomics, and artificial intelligence (AI) enhance risk stratification beyond conventional parameters. MRI remains the reference for detecting IPH, while CTA and PCCT improve lumen and tissue characterization. PET tracers further interrogate inflammatory and calcification pathways. Emerging frameworks such as Plaque-Reporting and Data System aim to standardize reporting and integrate multimodal biomarkers. The future of carotid imaging lies in precision medicine, combining advanced imaging, AI, and molecular biology to optimize individualized stroke prevention strategies.

L.S. contributed to conceptualization, data curation, methodology, project administration, resources, supervision, validation, visualization, and writing—original draft, review, and editing. A.P. contributed to data curation, methodology, validation, and writing—review and editing. J.S.S. contributed to conceptualization, formal analysis, resources, and writing—review and editing. K.I.P. contributed to conceptualization, project administration, resources, and writing—review and editing.

Received: 19 September 2025

Accepted after revision: 27 February 2026

Article published online:
07 April 2026

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