Measuring medium-sized muscular arteries using a novel broadband 15-MHz linear array probe.
We recently developed a wideband 15-MHz linear array probe (15 M) with a band width of 8 MHz (9-17 MHz). Both axial and lateral resolution of 15 M, evaluated using a phantom model, were better than those of the current 10-MHz linear probe. To compare interobserver variability in measurement of medium-sized muscular arteries acquired using a 7.5-MHz linear probe (7.5 M), a 10-MHz linear probe (10M) and 15 M, two observers independently acquired images of the brachial and radial arteries, and measured the diameter and intima-media thickness (IMT) of those arteries in 17 male volunteers. Intraobserver variability in determining percent flowmediated dilatation (%FMD) was assessed in the same subjects using 15 M. Coefficients of variation (CV) in arteries measured using 7.5 M, 10 M, and 15 M were 7.0%, 2.5%, and 1.5%, respectively, for the diameter of the brachial artery; 10.3%, 5.8%, and 3.2%, respectively, for the diameter of the radial artery; and 17.0%, 13.8%, and 8.5%, respectively, for IMT of the far wall of the brachial artery. The CV of measurement of %FMD was 4.6%. The new 15-MHz probe thus warrants use in evaluating morphology and function of muscular arteries of medium size.
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan.
Satoshi
S
Yamada
College of Medical Technology, Hokkaido University, Kita 12, Nishi 5, Kitaku, 060-0812, Sapporo, Japan.
Taisei
T
Mikami
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan.
Keiko
K
Nishihara
Ultrasound Division, Hitachi Medical Corporation, 2-1 Shintoyofuta, 277-0804, Kashiwashi, Japan.
Tsuyoshi
T
Mitake
Ultrasound Division, Hitachi Medical Corporation, 2-1 Shintoyofuta, 277-0804, Kashiwashi, Japan.
Mikio
M
Izumi
Ultrasound Division, Hitachi Medical Corporation, 2-1 Shintoyofuta, 277-0804, Kashiwashi, Japan.
Naohiro
N
Yoshida
Ultrasound Division, Hitachi Medical Corporation, 2-1 Shintoyofuta, 277-0804, Kashiwashi, Japan.
Akihiko
A
Hanaoka
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan.
Di
D
Wu
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan.
Kaoru
K
Komuro
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan.
Hisao
H
Onozuka
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan.
Satoshi
S
Fujii
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan.
Akira
A
Kitabatake
brachial artery; flow-mediated dilatation; intima-media thickness; radial artery; ultrasonography