title: Data on consistency among different methods to assess atherosclerotic plaque echogenicity on standard ultrasound and intraplaque neovascularization on contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging in human carotid artery.
abstract: Here we provide the correlation among different carotid ultrasound (US) variables to assess echogenicity n standard carotid US and to assess intraplaque neovascularization on contrast enhanced US. We recruited 45 consecutive subjects with an asymptomatic≥50% carotid artery stenosis. Carotid plaque echogenicity at standard US was visually graded according to Gray-Weale classification (GW) and measured by the greyscale median (GSM), a semi-automated computerized measurement performed by Adobe Photoshop®. On CEUS imaging IPNV was graded according to the visual appearance of contrast within the plaque according to three different methods: CEUS_A (1=absent; 2=present); CEUS_B a three-point scale (increasing IPNV from 1 to 3); CEUS_C a four-point scale (increasing IPNV from 0 to 3). We have also implemented a new simple quantification method derived from region of interest (ROI) signal intensity ratio as assessed by QLAB software. Further information is available in "Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of intraplaque neovascularization and its correlation to plaque echogenicity in human carotid arteries atherosclerosis (M. Cattaneo, D. Staub, A.P. Porretta, J.M. Gallino, P. Santini, C. Limoni et al., 2016) [1].
authors.affiliation: Hospital of San Giovanni, Department of Cardiology, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Basel, Department of Angiology, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staub
authors.affiliation: Hospital of San Giovanni, Department of Cardiology, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alessandra P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Porretta
authors.affiliation: Hospital of San Giovanni, Department of Cardiology, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jeanne Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gallino
authors.affiliation: Hospital of San Giovanni, Department of Radiology, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Costanzo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Limoni
authors.affiliation: Hospital of San Giovanni, Department of Radiology, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wyttenbach
authors.affiliation: Hospital of San Giovanni, Department of Cardiology, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallino
keywords: Carotid atherosclerosis; Contrast enhanced ultrasound; Echogenicity