title: Detection of carotid adventitial vasa vasorum and plaque vascularization with ultrasound cadence contrast pulse sequencing technique and echo-contrast agent.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicenzini
authors.forename: Maria Fabrizia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Giannoni
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Puccinelli
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altieri
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Piero
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gossetti
authors.forename: Fabrizio Benedetti
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Lenzi
mesh_terms: 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