title: Contrast ultrasound imaging of the carotid artery vasa vasorum and atherosclerotic plaque neovascularization.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease is associated with the aging of the population, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Therefore, it is important to develop non-invasive imaging systems to detect "at-risk" populations. New data suggest that contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CU) imaging of the carotid arteries enhances luminal irregularities (i.e., ulcers and plaques), improves near-wall, carotid intima-media thickness, and uniquely permits direct, real-time visualization of neovasculature of the atherosclerotic plaque and associated adventitial vasa vasorum. With continued clinical investigation, CU imaging of the carotid artery may afford an effective means to non-invasively identify atherosclerosis in "at-risk" populations while providing new standard for therapeutic monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. sfeinste@rush.edu
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Feinstein
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media