Improved carotid atherosclerotic plaques imaging with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)
Issue title: Selected Presentations from the 29th Conference of the German Society for Clinical Hemorheolgy and Microcirculation, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, 17–18 September 2010
Affiliations: Department of Clinical Radiology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: Priv.–Doz. Dr. med. Dirk-André Clevert, Associate Professor of Radiology, Interdisciplinary Ultrasound-Center, Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Munich – Grosshadern Campus, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. Tel.: +49 89/7095 3650; Fax: +49 89/7095 8832; E-mail: Dirk.Clevert@med.uni-muenchen.de
Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate neovascularisation within carotid atherosclerotic plaques with contrast enhanced ultrasound. Methods: We used contrast-enhanced ultrasound to examine 33 patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Plaque size and echogenicity were analyzed and we correlated neovascularization within the plaques. Results: There were 41 atherosclerotic plaques, 27 plaques enhanced after the injection of a contrast agent. Among the group of enhancing plaques we found 8 soft- and 19 mixed plaques. The overall thickness ranging in enhanced plaques was from 1.8 to 4.6 mm. In all cases the contrast uptake in the plaques was later than in the carotid artery. Among the 14 unenhanced atherosclerotic plaques, 4 plaques presented as hard plaques, three calcified plaques, two soft plaques and five presented as mixed plaques. The overall thickness ranging in unenhanced plaques was from 1.7 to 6 mm. Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound allows the non invasive, dynamic evaluation of neovascularisation within carotid plaques.
