title: Three-dimensional ultrasound observation of carotid artery plaque ulceration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carotid artery plaque ulceration is associated with an increased risk of cerebral embolism. However, because of the rather poor diagnostic quality of conventional 2-D ultrasound and angiography compared with the evaluation of pathological specimens, little information exists on the natural course of carotid plaque ulceration. Recently, the introduction of 3-D ultrasound has made reproducible investigation of plaque morphology possible, providing a reliable plaque surface analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed 3-D ultrasound examinations of 17 carotid artery plaques with an ulcerated surface in a prospective study of 16 patients (10 men, 6 women; mean+/-SD age 68.9+/-7.1 years) over a mean observation period of 17.6+/-6.3 months. Exactly parallel B-mode ultrasound scans (slice distance 0.1 mm) were acquired with a 5-MHz linear array probe clamped in a carriage device and driven by a mechanical step motor. The recorded images were reconstructed into a volumetric data set in a Cartesian coordinate system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the observation period, surface configuration had changed in 4 cases (23.5%). Plaque ulceration regressed in 3 cases, whereas ulcer progression occurred in 1 case. The remaining 13 plaques (76. 5%) showed an unchanged surface configuration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through the use of 3-D ultrasound, it is possible to noninvasively examine the regression and progression of carotid artery plaque ulceration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. schminke@neurologie.uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schminke
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Motsch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hilker
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kessler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014456:Ulcer / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards