Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease: Pathologic Basis for Treatment reviews the natural history of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and outlines different pathologic characteristics of asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid plaque with the intent to give a pathology-based rationale for assessment, risk stratification and decision-making therapeutic strategy of patients affected by carotid disease. Another section further illustrates - in a evidence based medicine format - the impact of carotid plaque imaging from high-resolution MRI to new Doppler imaging modalities and vasa vasorum detection to correctly assess plaque risk stratification. The new concept of a tailored stent for different plaque morphologies and usage of dedicated cerebral protection devices in presence of particular plaque features will be pointed up. The concluding section sheds light on future advancement in gene therapy and carotid arterial wall repair. This volume offers the reader all the basis necessary to shift from the old concept of 'when' to treat - based on simple luminal narrowing - to the new concept of 'who should be treated' - based on plaque and patient characteristics.