Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and detection of carotid plaque neovascularization.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the evaluation of neovascularization in atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Neovascularization associated with plaque vulnerability, particularly in the plaque shoulder, is susceptible to rupture, causing ischemic events. We aimed to use contrast-enhanced ultrasound to evaluate neovessels in carotid plaques quantitatively, focusing on plaque shoulders. METHODS Using contrast-enhanced ultrasound with perflubutane, we analyzed 50 consecutive pati...

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of intraplaque neovascularization in carotid arteries: correlation with histology and plaque echogenicity.

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of carotid atherosclerosis as a clinical tool to study intraplaque neovascularization. BACKGROUND Plaque neovascularization is associated with plaque vulnerability and symptomatic disease; therefore, imaging of neovascularization in carotid atherosclerosis may represent a useful tool for clinical risk stratifi...

Molecular imaging of carotid plaque vulnerability.

BACKGROUND Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been shown to be beneficial in patients with high-grade symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Patients with high-grade asymptomatic stenosis may only exceptionally benefit from CEA during periods of increased plaque vulnerability. Imaging modalities to characterize unstable, vulnerable plaques are strongly needed for better risk stratification in these...

Contrast Enhanced Ultrasonography and Carotid Plaque Imaging: from the Hemodynamic Evaluation to the Detection of Neoangiogenesis - The New Approach to the Identification of the Unstable Plaque: from Morphology to Patophysiology

Data on consistency among different methods to assess atherosclerotic plaque echogenicity on standard ultrasound and intraplaque neovascularization on contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging in human carotid artery

Here we provide the correlation among different carotid ultrasound (US) variables to assess echogenicity n standard carotid US and to assess intraplaque neovascularization on contrast enhanced US. We recruited 45 consecutive subjects with an asymptomatic≥50% carotid artery stenosis. Carotid plaque echogenicity at standard US was visually graded according to Gray-Weale classification (GW) and me...