Accuracy of in vivo carotid B-mode ultrasound compared with pathological analysis: intima-media thickening, lumen diameter, and cross-sectional area.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the correlation of in vivo ultrasound measurements of intima-media thickening (IMT), lumen diameter, and cross-sectional area of the common carotid artery (CCA) with corresponding measurements obtained by gross pathology and histology.


METHODS
Sixty-six moribund neurological patients (mean age 71 years) underwent B-mode ultrasound of the CCA a few days before death. During autopsy, carotid specimens were removed in toto. Carotid arteries were ligated and cannulated for injection of a hydrophilic embedding material under standardized conditions. The carotid bifurcation was frozen and cut manually in 3-mm cross slices. Digital image analysis was carried out to determine the diameter and the cross-sectional area of the frozen slices of the CCA. IMT was assessed by light microscope. Ultrasonic and planimetric data were compared.


RESULTS
Mean measurements of lumen diameter and cross-sectional area were 7.13+/-1.27 mm and 0.496+/-0.167 cm(2), respectively, by ultrasound, and 7.81+/-1.45 mm and 0.516+/-0.194 cm(2), respectively, by planimetric analysis of the unfixed redistended carotid arteries (R(2)=0.389 and 0.497). The mean IMT was 1.005+/-0.267 mm by ultrasound and 0.67+/-0.141 mm histologically, resulting in a mean difference of -31%.


CONCLUSIONS
Transcutaneous B-mode ultrasound provides a reliable approach for in vivo measurements of the cross-sectional area and, less exactly, of the lumen diameter of the CCA. Compared with histological results, in vivo ultrasound measurements of the IMT are systematically larger.
Schulte-Altedorneburg
G
G
Department of Neurology, University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Debrecen, Hungary. Gernot.SAD@gmx.de
Droste
D W
DW
Felszeghy
S
S
Kellermann
M
M
Popa
V
V
Hegedüs
K
K
Hegedüs
C
C
Schmid
M
M
Módis
L
L
Ringelstein
E B
EB
Csiba
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*