Comparison of degree of stenosis and plaque volume for the assessment of carotid atherosclerosis using 2-D ultrasound.
The degree of carotid stenosis (%ST) remains the most frequently used parameter for identifying patients with high risk of stroke but the relationship between %ST and the occurrence of stroke remains controversial. The objectives of this study were to check (1) the relationship between the %ST and the plaque volume index (PVI) as measured by echography and Doppler, (2) the relationship between the intima media thickness (IMT), a vessel wall remodeling index and the PVI an atheromatous growth index. For each of the 128 patients, (165 carotid stenosis), we measured the % ST (section or diameter), the max stenosis velocity (V(max)), the PVI and the common carotid IMT. The %ST (section) ranged from 10% to 93% (mean 66+/-18), V(max) from 0.3m/s to 3m/s (mean 1.2+/-0.8), PVI from 0.61cm(3) to 1.17cm(3) (mean 0.41+/-0.21) and the IMT from 0.08cm up to 0.31cm (mean 0.12+/-0.03). There was no significant correlation between either PVI and %ST (section or diameter), PVI and minimal stenosis section area (S1) or between PVI and V(max). There was no significant correlation between IMT and both %ST area and PVI. PVI was significantly correlated with the whole artery section area (S2) and the plaque length (L). The %ST (section or diameter) was significantly correlated with S1 but not with S2. The absence of correlation between the PVI and the %ST confirm that these two parameters describe two different processes of the atheromatous development.
de Labriolle
Axel
A
Departement de Cardiologie, Centre hospitalier universitaire, Tours, France.
Mohty
Dania
D
Pacouret
Gérard
G
Giraudeau
Bruno
B
Fichet
Jérome
J
Fremont
Benoit
B
Fauchier
Laurent
L
Charbonnier
Bernard
B
Arbeille
Philippe
P
D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004453:Echoencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology