Tissue Characterization of Arterial Wall Based on Elasticity Imaging with Ultrasound

This paper describes a noninvasive method for evaluating regional elasticity of atheroma by measuring the minute change in thickness of the arterial wall during one heartbeat. By comparing the pathological findings with the elasticity images, elasticity distributions for lipid and fibrous tissue (mixture of smooth muscle and collagen fiber) were determined in vitro. Furthermore, to characterize the fibrous cap of plaque, which almost consists of smooth muscle and collagen fiber, the correlation between the collagen content and elasticity was investigated for fibrous tissue. Based on these elasticity reference data, fibrous tissue surrounding the soft inclusion of lipids was noninvasively clarified in a carotid plaque and the collagen content in the fibrous cap was also estimated. This method offers potential for detection of plaque vulnerability in a clinical setting.