Three-dimensional ultrasound observation of carotid artery plaque ulceration.
Stroke, 2000/7;31(7):1651-5.
Schminke U[1], Motsch L, Hilker L, Kessler C
Affiliations
PMID: 10884468
Impact factor: 10.17
Abstract
background and purpose: Carotid artery plaque ulceration is associated with an increased risk of cerebral embolism. However, because of the rather poor diagnostic quality of conventional 2-D ultrasound and angiography compared with the evaluation of pathological specimens, little information exists on the natural course of carotid plaque ulceration. Recently, the introduction of 3-D ultrasound has made reproducible investigation of plaque morphology possible, providing a reliable plaque surface analysis.
methods: We performed 3-D ultrasound examinations of 17 carotid artery plaques with an ulcerated surface in a prospective study of 16 patients (10 men, 6 women; mean+/-SD age 68.9+/-7.1 years) over a mean observation period of 17.6+/-6.3 months. Exactly parallel B-mode ultrasound scans (slice distance 0.1 mm) were acquired with a 5-MHz linear array probe clamped in a carriage device and driven by a mechanical step motor. The recorded images were reconstructed into a volumetric data set in a Cartesian coordinate system.
results: At the end of the observation period, surface configuration had changed in 4 cases (23.5%). Plaque ulceration regressed in 3 cases, whereas ulcer progression occurred in 1 case. The remaining 13 plaques (76. 5%) showed an unchanged surface configuration.
conclusions: Through the use of 3-D ultrasound, it is possible to noninvasively examine the regression and progression of carotid artery plaque ulceration.
MeSH terms
Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carotid Arteries; Carotid Artery Diseases; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Ulcer; Ultrasonography
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