title: Standard B-Mode Ultrasound Measures Local Carotid Artery Characteristics as Reliably as Radiofrequency Phase Tracking in Symptomatic Carotid Artery Patients.
abstract: Local arterial stiffness can be assessed with high accuracy and precision by measuring arterial distension on the basis of phase tracking of radiofrequency ultrasound signals acquired at a high frame rate. However, in clinical practice, B-mode ultrasound registrations are made at a low frame rate (20-50 Hz). We compared the accuracy and intra-subject precision of edge tracking and phase tracking distension in symptomatic carotid artery patients. B-mode ultrasound recordings (40 mm, 37 fps) and radiofrequency recordings (31 lines covering 29 mm, 300 fps) were acquired from the left common carotid artery of 30 patients (aged 45-88 y) with recent cerebrovascular events. To extract the distension, semi-automatic echo edge and phase tracking algorithms were applied to B-mode and radiofrequency recordings, respectively. Both methods exhibited a similar intra-subject precision for distension (standard deviation = 44 μm and 47 μm, p = 0.66) and mean distension (difference: -6 ± 69 μm, p = 0.67). Intra-subject distension inhomogeneity tends to be larger for edge tracking (difference: 15 ± 35 μm, p = 0.04). Standard B-mode scanners are suitable for measuring local artery characteristics in symptomatic carotid artery patients with good precision and accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeire
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinbuch
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arnold P G
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hoeks
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hermeling
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martine T B
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Truijman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Floris H B M
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Schreuder
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: werner.mess@mumc.nl.
authors.forename: Werner H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Mess
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: Arterial stiffness; B-mode; Carotid artery; Carotid atherosclerosis; Distension; Edge detection; Ultrasound