title: Evaluation of the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque with contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).
  
  
  METHODS
  CEUS images of 93 patients were evaluated to observe new vessels within CAPs. Microembolic signals (MES) were detected using transcranial Doppler (TCD). Thirty-four patients with hyperechoic plaques were evaluated as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty percent (75/93) of plaques showed contrast enhancement on CEUS, including 50.7% (38/75) of hypoechoic plaques and 49.3% (37/75) of mixed echoic plaques. No plaques in the control group showed enhancement on CEUS. With TCD, 35.5% (33/93) of patients were positive for MES. Plaques with grade 2 or 3 enhancement on CEUS had a higher positive rate for MES. Forty-one patients with grade 2 or 3 enhancement on CEUS presented with fresh infarctions confirmed by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, grade 2 or 3 contrast enhancement observed on CEUS indicated vulnerable plaques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, 71# Xinming Street, 130021, Changchun, China. 843276182@qq.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, 71# Xinming Street, 130021, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, 71# Xinming Street, 130021, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, 71# Xinming Street, 130021, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, 130021, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Qi
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: International Health Promotion Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, 130021, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Carotid atheromatous plaque; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS); Microembolus signal (MES); Neovascularization; Transcranial Doppler (TCD)