Detection of carotid adventitial vasa vasorum and plaque vascularization with ultrasound cadence contrast pulse sequencing technique and echo-contrast agent.
OBJECTIVE
Adventitial vasa vasorum and plaque vascularization have been established as predictors of unstable atheromasic lesions in cerebro- and cardiovascular patients. Ultrasound contrast agents provide reliable information on tissue perfusion and microcirculation. We used contrast ultrasound duplex scanning to identify carotid plaque vascularization.


METHODS
Contrast carotid duplex scanning was performed in 23 patients with plaques of different degree of stenosis and echogenicity.


RESULTS
Plaque vascularization was detected in the fibrous and fibro-fatty tissue and not observed in the calcific nor in the necrotic and hemorrhagic tissue. Constantly, a small vessel was observed under ulcerations.


CONCLUSIONS
Carotid contrast ultrasound imaging appears to be an emerging technique for identifying plaque angiogenesis. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of plaque angiogenesis for assessing cerebrovascular risk and to monitor effects of therapies aimed to plaque remodelling.
Vicenzini
Edoardo
E
Giannoni
Maria Fabrizia
MF
Puccinelli
Francesco
F
Ricciardi
Maria Chiara
MC
Altieri
Marta
M
Di Piero
Vittorio
V
Gossetti
Bruno
B
Valentini
Fabrizio Benedetti
FB
Lenzi
Gian Luigi
GL
D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods*; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology