Contrast-enhanced sonographic characteristics of neovascularization in carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate neovascularization within carotid atherosclerotic plaques with contrast-enhanced sonography.


METHODS
We used contrast-enhanced sonography to examine 63 patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The features of neovascularization within the plaques were analyzed and correlated with plaque size and echogenicity.


RESULTS
There were 81 atherosclerotic plaques, 62 of which (43 soft and 19 mixed) enhanced after injection of a contrast agent. The enhancement occurred from the carotid wall to the center of the plaque with a short-line pattern in 36 plaques, whereas 26 plaques enhanced from both the carotid wall and the carotid lumen, with a sparse spot pattern. The arrival time of contrast was shorter (p < 0.001) and time to peak was longer (p < 0.001) in the plaques than in the carotid lumen. Time to peak was shorter, whereas enhanced intensity was greater in soft plaques than in mixed plaques (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Among the 19 unenhanced plaques, 6 were hard, 3 were calcified, 3 were soft, and 7 were mixed. The thickness of the unenhanced plaques was <2.4 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast-enhanced sonography allows the noninvasive, dynamic evaluation of neovascularization within carotid plaques, and the presence of neovascularization may correlate with plaque morphology.
Huang
Pin-tong
PT
Department of Ultrasonography, 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, 109 Xueyuan West Road Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325027, China.
Huang
Fu-guang
FG
Zou
Chun-peng
CP
Sun
Hai-yan
HY
Tian
Xin-qiao
XQ
Yang
Yan
Y
Tang
Ji-fei
JF
Yang
Peng-lin
PL
Wang
Xiao-tong
XT
D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride