OBJECTIVES: to confirm that plaque echogenicity evaluated by computer analysis, as suggested by preliminary studies, can identify plaques associated with a high incidence of strokes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a series of 96 patients with carotid stenosis in the range of 50-99% were studied retrospectively (41 with TIAs and 55 asymptomatic). Carotid plaque echogenicity was evaluated using a computerised measurement of the median grey scale value (GSM). All patients had a CT brain scan to determine the presence of infarction in the carotid territory. RESULTS: the incidence of ipsilateral brain CT infarctions was 16% in the asymptomatic and 32% in the symptomatic plaques (p =0.076). It was 20% for <70% stenosis and 25% for >70% stenosis (p =0.52). It was 9% for plaques which had a GSM >50 and 40% in those with GSM <50 (p <0.001) with a relative risk of 4.6 (95% CI 1.8 to 11.6). CONCLUSIONS: the results confirm that computer analysis of plaque echogenicity is better than the degree of stenosis in identifying plaques associated with an increased incidence of CT brain-scan infarction and consequently useful for identifying individuals at high risk of stroke. What is required is a form of image standardisation in order to apply this method to natural history studies with stroke as the endpoint. Copyright 1999 W.B. Saunders Company Ltd.
OBJECTIVES: to confirm that plaque echogenicity evaluated by computer analysis, as suggested by preliminary studies, can identify plaques associated with a high incidence of strokes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a series of 96 patients with carotid stenosis in the range of 50-99% were studied retrospectively (41 with TIAs and 55 asymptomatic). Carotid plaque echogenicity was evaluated using a computerised measurement of the median grey scale value (GSM). All patients had a CT brain scan to determine the presence of infarction in the carotid territory. RESULTS: the incidence of ipsilateral brain CT infarctions was 16% in the asymptomatic and 32% in the symptomatic plaques (p =0.076). It was 20% for <70% stenosis and 25% for >70% stenosis (p =0.52). It was 9% for plaques which had a GSM >50 and 40% in those with GSM <50 (p <0.001) with a relative risk of 4.6 (95% CI 1.8 to 11.6). CONCLUSIONS: the results confirm that computer analysis of plaque echogenicity is better than the degree of stenosis in identifying plaques associated with an increased incidence of CT brain-scan infarction and consequently useful for identifying individuals at high risk of stroke. What is required is a form of image standardisation in order to apply this method to natural history studies with stroke as the endpoint. Copyright 1999 W.B. Saunders Company Ltd.
Authors: V Rafailidis; I Chryssogonidis; C Xerras; E Grisan; G-A Cheimariotis; T Tegos; D Rafailidis; P S Sidhu; A Charitanti-Kouridou Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2019-05-09 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Canxing Xu; Chun Yuan; Edward Stutzman; Gador Canton; Keith A Comess; Kirk W Beach Journal: Ultrasound Med Biol Date: 2015-12-23 Impact factor: 2.998
Authors: Baris Kanber; Timothy C Hartshorne; Mark A Horsfield; Andrew R Naylor; Thompson G Robinson; Kumar V Ramnarine Journal: Cardiovasc Ultrasound Date: 2013-06-14 Impact factor: 2.062
Authors: Baris Kanber; Timothy C Hartshorne; Mark A Horsfield; Andrew R Naylor; Thompson G Robinson; Kumar V Ramnarine Journal: Cardiovasc Ultrasound Date: 2013-10-20 Impact factor: 2.062