Plaque vs blockage: what’s the difference?

Plaque and stenosis (blockage) are closely linked, but they describe different stages of coronary artery disease. Plaque is the gradual accumulation of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other substances within the wall of an artery. As plaque enlarges, it can progressively narrow the artery, resulting in stenosis, which reduces blood flow to the heart muscle. Identifying plaque before significant stenosis develops is an important part of cardiovascular assessment, allowing doctors to better evaluate coronary artery disease and guide appropriate treatment before blood flow becomes significantly compromised. To learn more about our cardiac imaging services, visit our website here.