title: Quantification of Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis with 3D Ultrasound Angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate a new method of three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) angiography of carotid vessels including 3D-US quantification of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (ICAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two neurologists performed native ultrasound scans of the brain-supplying carotid arteries in 73 probands (including 22 patients with 25 cases of ICAS) using a Toshiba Aplio 500 ultrasound machine equipped with the 3 D application of Curefab CS. Additionally, 25 probands underwent contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) of the neck vessels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean length of the proximal ICA was 32.1 mm ± 9.8 mm & 31.3 mm ± 9.0 mm (each n = 97). The interrater reliability (intraclass correlation, ICC) was 0.75 ± 0.23 for the common carotid artery (CCA, n = 90) and 0.78 ± 0.21 (n = 92) for the ICA. The intermethod agreement between 3D-US angiography and CE-MRA was 0.67 ± 0.19 (n = 45) & 0.66 ± 0.19 (n = 44) for the CCA and 0.79 ± 0.17 (n = 47) & 0.75 ± 0.19 (n = 46) for the ICA. Quantification of ICAS applying 3D-US in comparison to 2D color-coded duplexsonography (2D-CDS) showed a moderate to good intermethod agreement both by the Bland and Altman analysis and by ICC (0.8 & 0.72; with each p < 0.001). The interrater reliability for quantification of ICAS was 0.79; p < 0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Native 3D-US angiography of carotid vessels shows good interrater and intermethod agreement in comparison to CE-MRA. Together with a moderate to good intermethod and interrater agreement in the quantification of ICAS, when compared to 2D-CDS, 3D-US angiography is thus a promising complementary imaging technique for carotid artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Pelz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weinreich
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fritzsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020215:Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media