Value of real-time elastography in evaluating rabbit carotid artery vulnerable plaque
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1004-4477.2016.02.020
- VernacularTitle:实时超声弹性成像技术评价兔颈动脉易损斑块的价值
- Author:
Litao SUN
;
Zhenzhen WANG
;
Xinying DOU
;
Nana LIU
;
Xiaoying LI
;
Meizheng DANG
;
Jiawei TIAN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Elasticity imaging techniques;
Carotid arteries;
Plaques;
Rabbits
- From:
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography
2016;25(2):168-171,172
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the clinical value of real‐time elastography in evaluating rabbit carotid vulnerable plaque . Methods Thirty male New Zealand rabbits ( weighted from 2 .0 to 3 .0 kg) were all fed with high cholesterol diet for one week before balloon injury of their right common carotid arteries . Then they were categorized randomly into two groups which were continued fed by high cholesterol diet for 6 and 12 weeks ,respectively . Ultrasound and real‐time elastography of their right common carotid arteries were applied after their anesthesia by ear marginal vein . Strains of the carotid plaques were measured and analyzed statistically by two independent experienced sonographers . All the rabbits were sacrificed by air embolism method after all the examinations . The atherosclerotic rabbit common carotid lesions were dissected ,fixed for pathologic examination , and graded according to the standard of American Heart Association ( AHA) ,which were compared with the real‐time elastography findings . Results Real‐time elastography had well repeatability between different operators . Consistency between elastography and the AHA pathology was quite good ,with the Cohen′s kappa= 0 .803 (95% CI 0 .669 to 0 .938) . Strains of different regions in a plaque had statistically significant difference ( P <0 .000 1) . By using strain higher than 0 .37% ,the sensitivity and specificity of detecting a lipid core were 88 .0% and 81 .6% ,and area under ROC curve was 0 .902 (95% CI 0 .810 -0 .959 , P < 0 .0001) . Conclusions Real‐time elastography can display the inner elastic characteristics of the rabbit carotid plaques ,and may help evaluate the grading of a plaque . The strain value may help detect a necrotic core ,thereby help evaluate the stability of a plaque .
