Purpose of review: To describe the uses of measurement of carotid plaque burden, as total plaque area (TPA), total plaque volume (TPV), and vessel wall volume (VWV), which includes plaque burden and wall volume.
Recent findings: Measurement of plaque burden is useful for risk stratification, research into the genetics and biology of atherosclerosis, for measuring effects of new therapies for atherosclerosis, and for treatment of high-risk patients with severe atherosclerosis.
Summary: Measurement of plaque burden is far superior to measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in many ways, and should replace it. Vessel wall volume can be measured in persons with no plaque as an alternative to IMT.