Vito Cantisani MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Pietro Lodise, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mattia Di Segni MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Cristina Fioravanti, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sarah Montechiarello MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Paolo Ricci MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ferdinando D'Ambrosio, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Carlo Catalano MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hektor Grazhdani, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

To assess the feasibility of Color-Doppler US and ultrasound strain elastography (USE) to better characterize carotid plaque composition and vulnerability as compared with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or CTA.

55 patients (38 males, 17 females) with 50 % or greater carotid stenosis underwent color-doppler US and USE and at least one of second imaging modality such as high-resolution MRI (N: 30) or CTA (40) of internal carotid arteries. US-color-map elastographic US evaluations of segmented plaques were achieved. On MRI or CTA, corresponding plaques and components were segmented and quantified. Associations between strain parameters, plaque composition and clinical presentation were estimated with curve-fitting regressions and Mann-Whitney tests.

2 patients were excluded from the study since strain-US elastography did not provide sufficient informations. In the remaining patients, no significant difference was found in determining the mean stenosis between color-doppler US and second imaging modalities. Among 53 plaques, 12 were symptomatic, 17 contained lipid and 8 were vulnerable on MRI or CTA. Strains were significantly lower in plaques containing a lipid core compared with those without lipid, with 90 % sensitivity and 85 % specificity. A statistically significant correlation was found between strain and lipid content (P < 0.05). US-color-map elastographic US, did not help to discriminate vulnerable plaques.

Color-doppler US and ultrasound strain elastography (USE) is feasible in patients with significant carotid stenosis and can detect the presence of soft plaque  with high sensitivity and moderate specificity.

US-strain elastography provides additional information to vascular ultrasound since may help to better characterize carotid plaque

Cantisani, V, Lodise, P, Di Segni, M, Fioravanti, C, Montechiarello, S, Ricci, P, D'Ambrosio, F, Catalano, C, Grazhdani, H, Echostructure Characterisation of Carotid Plaques with Strain-Ultrasound Elastography as Compared with CT or MRI.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13044487.html