Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of plaque stability in carotid arteries with different stenosis degree
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1004-4477.2011.03.012
- VernacularTitle:超声造影评价不同狭窄程度颈动脉粥样斑块内的新生血管形成
- Author:
Chaolun LI
;
Wenping WANG
;
Wanyuan HE
;
Peili FAN
;
Qing YU
;
Qingyue XU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Ultrasonography;
Microbubbles;
Neovascularization;
Carotid artery diseases;
Arteriosclerosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography
2011;20(3):216-218
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of carotid atherosclerosis with different stenostic degree as a clinical tool to study intraplaque neovascularization.Methods Fifty-eight patients suspected of carotid stenosis with 73 plaques were studied by standard and contrast-enhanced ultrasound.Plaque echogenicity at standard ultrasound were evaluated.Contrast enhancement within the plaques was categorized as 0 - 4 degree and compared to the stenosis degree and the plaque echogenicity.The degree of stenosis was determined by intravenous digital subtraction angiography.Results In the group with stenosis less than 90% ,stenosis degree was not associated with the grade of contrast enhancement (P =0.358),while the grade of enhancement was significantly higher in the group with sever stenosis(＞90%).The grades of enhancement were significantly different between plaques with different echogenicity (P =0.000).Conclusions Contrast-enhanced real-time ultrasound imaging can demonstrate the enhancement of carotid plaques non-invasively,which is helpful for assessing intraplaque neovascularization and provide valuable information for plaque risk stratification
