Characterization of Carotid Artery Plaques Using Real-Time Compound B-Mode Ultrasound

Abstract

The authors investigated the value of real-time compound ultrasound imaging for improving the image quality of B-mode scanning. The study cohort comprised 32 patients in whom plaques of the internal carotid artery had been identified by high-resolution B-mode scanning. Real-time compound ultrasound imaging was used to investigate the plaques, which were rated by two independent observers according to a standardized protocol. The observers classified most of the plaques as echogenic and with irregular surfaces. Agreement was similar for both compound ultrasound and conventional B-mode. Real-time compound ultrasound was rated superior in the categories of plaque texture, plaque surface definition and vessel wall demarcation. The authors concluded that realtime compound ultrasound showed good agreement with highresolution B-mode imaging and is a useful technique for the characterization of atherosclerotic plaques.

Keywords

plaque characterization B-mode ultrasound duplex scanning carotid disease

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