title: Multimodality ultrasound imaging in stroke: current concepts and future focus.
abstract: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Ultrasound is a real-time imaging technique that is inexpensive, portable, non-invasive, and safe, with high diagnostic accuracy. Ultrasonic imaging can provide useful direct and indirect information about the characteristics of various vessels in the both intracranial and extracranial segments. Areas covered: In this review, we will discuss multimodal applications of ultrasonic imaging in stroke prevention and management including checking carotid intima-media thickness progression, evaluating the plaque morphology, calibrating the degree of stenosis, detecting the presence of patent foramen ovale, monitoring microembolization, and screening for stroke risk in patients with sickle cell disease. We present the conventional ultrasonography as well as the novel ultrasound techniques including gray scale median, 3-dementional ultrasound, elastography, intravascular ultrasound, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Expert commentary: Ultrasonography is a non-invasive, low-cost, safe, fast, and real-time imaging technology for stroke risk assessment. Each modality has its own advantage as well as limitation. Future research should be focused on developing new technologies that can improve the quality of imaging and accuracy of diagnosis.
authors: a Department of Vascular Ultrasound , Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China.|b Department of Neurology, MUSC Stroke Center , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , USA.
authors: Yumei
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: a Department of Vascular Ultrasound , Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Hua
authors: b Department of Neurology, MUSC Stroke Center , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , USA.
authors: Wuwei
authors: W
authors: Feng
authors: b Department of Neurology, MUSC Stroke Center , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , USA.
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Ovbiagele
mesh_terms: D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: atherosclerotic plaque; carotid intima-media thickness; risk assessment; stroke; transcranial color doppler; ultrasonography