Endovascular shear strain elastography for the detection and characterization of the severity of atherosclerotic plaques: in vitro validation and in vivo evaluation.
This work explores the potential of shear strain elastograms to identify vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. The Lagrangian speckle model estimator (LSME) elasticity imaging method was further developed to estimate shear strain elasticity (SSE). Three polyvinyl alcohol cryogel vessel phantoms were imaged with an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) scanner. The estimated SSE maps were validated against finite-element results. Atherosclerosis was induced in carotid arteries of eight Sinclair mini-pigs using a combination of surgical techniques, diabetes and a high-fat diet. IVUS images were acquired in vivo in 14 plaques before euthanasia and histology. All plaques were characterized by high magnitudes in SSE maps that correlated with American Heart Association atherosclerosis stage classifications (r = 0.97, p < 0.001): the worse the plaque condition the higher was the absolute value of SSE, i.e. |SSE| (e.g., mean |SSE| was 3.70 ± 0.40% in Type V plaques, whereas it was reduced to 0.11 ± 0.01% in normal walls). This study indicates the feasibility of using SSE to highlight atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability characteristics.
Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Younes
Y
Majdouline
Laboratory TIMC-IMAG/DyCTiM, University Joseph-Fourier, CNRS UMR 5525, Grenoble, France; University of Savoie, Polytech Annecy-Chambery, Le Bourget du Lac, France.
Jacques
J
Ohayon
Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Zahra
Z
Keshavarz-Motamed
Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Marie-Hélène
MH
Roy Cardinal
Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada; Research Unit of Biomechanics and Imaging in Cardiology, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Radiology, Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Damien
D
Garcia
Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Louise
L
Allard
Laboratory of Endovascular Biomaterials, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Sophie
S
Lerouge
Department of Radiology, Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Montreal Hospital (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Frédéric
F
Arsenault
Department of Radiology, Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Montreal Hospital (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Gilles
G
Soulez
Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Radiology, Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: guy.cloutier@umontreal.ca.
Guy
G
Cloutier
D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*
Atherosclerotic plaque image processing; Intravascular ultrasound; Shear strain; Swine model; Vascular elastography; Vulnerable plaques