Ultrasound imaging for risk assessment in atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis and its consequences like acute myocardial infarction or stroke are highly prevalent in western countries, and the incidence of atherosclerosis is rapidly rising in developing countries. Atherosclerosis is a disease that progresses silently over several decades before it results in the aforementioned clinical consequences. Therefore, there is a clinical need for imaging methods to detect the early stages of atherosclerosis and to better risk stratify patients. In this review, we will discuss how ultrasound imaging can contribute to the detection and risk stratification of atherosclerosis by (a) detecting advanced and early plaques; (b) evaluating the biomechanical consequences of atherosclerosis in the vessel wall;
Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, Basel 4031, Switzerland. david.steinl@unibas.ch.
David C
DC
Steinl
Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, Basel 4031, Switzerland. beat.kaufmann@usb.ch.
Beat A
BA
Kaufmann
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media