Yang Ju MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Cyrille Naim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marie-Helene Roy-Cardinal PhD, BEng, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marie-France Giroux MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Johnson & Johnson Research Grant, BIOTRONIK GmbH & Co KG Stockholder, Abbott Laboratories

Guy Cloutier PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gilles P. Soulez MD, Abstract Co-Author: Speaker, Bracco Group Speaker, Siemens AG Research Grant, Siemens AG Research Grant, Bracco Group Research Grant, Cook Group Incorporated Research Grant, Object Research Systems Inc

To evaluate the ability of non-invasive vascular elastography (NIVE) shear stress and axial deformation parameter analysis to discriminate between symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid plaques.

A total of sixty-four subjects including 18 women (28.1%) and 46 men (71.9 %) ages from 49 to 86 years (average of 70) with 50% or greater carotid stenosis (average of 68.8%; range from 50 to 100%) underwent doppler imaging of internal carotid arteries. A subgroup of 24 patients had neurological symptoms within three months prior to one year after initial examination and were considered as symptomatic; the remainder 40 patients were considered as asymptomatic. Carotid plaques were segmented on ultrasound images and elastograms over multiple heart cycles were computed with NIVE. The axial shear and deformation values were then estimated. Association between shear stress and deformation with symptomatology were estimated using Mann-Whitney for non-normal distribution of data.

The analysis of maximum axial shear strain showed a statistically significant difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic plaques (0.36 ± 0.17 vs 0.44 ± 0.17; P = 0.020). There was also a statistically significant difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic plaques when we compared the following parameter: Minimum Axial Deformation (-0.44 ± 0.24 vs -0.58 ± 0.23; P = 0.012), Maximal Axial Deformation (0.42 ± 0.23 vs 0.57 ± 0.20; P = 0.001), Range of Cumulated Axial Deformation (1.32 ± 0.82 vs 1.84 ± 0.75; P = 0.005) and Minimum Strain Rate (-1.56 ± 0.70 vs -2.27 ± 1.30; P = 0.016).       

Ultrasound NIVE is feasible in patients with significant carotid stenosis and could be used as a tool to discriminate symptomatic from asymptomatic patients using such parameters as shear strain and axial deformation.

Non-invasive vascular ultrasound could be a useful complementary tool in the identification of patients with significant carotid stenosis who could benefit from surgical treatment. 

Ju, Y, Naim, C, Roy-Cardinal, M, Giroux, M, Cloutier, G, Soulez, G, Non-invasive Ultrasound Elastography: Feasibility of Using Shear Stress and Axial Deformation as Parameters to Discriminate between Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Carotid Plaques.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14012234.html