OBJECTIVES: The goal of the present study was to examine whether suprasternal harmonic imaging (SHI) (i.e., harmonic imaging from the suprasternal windows) can visualize protruding arch atheromas (PAAs) and reliably predict the presence or absence of significant lesions. BACKGROUND: Protruding arch atheromas are a major source of cerebral and peripheral embolism and probably the most frequent cause of stroke during cardiac catheterization and open-heart surgery. Preprocedural screening by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) would be desirable but is limited by the nature of the examination. METHODS: Of 354 patients who underwent a TEE study in our laboratory during the study period, 106 were referred for detection of a source of embolism. Findings were classified based on the French Aortic Plaque study criteria as: 1) no or minimal atherosclerotic changes; 2) PAAs < 4 mm; 3) PAAs > or =4 mm or presence of a mobile component. RESULTS: Adequate transcutaneous image quality could be achieved in 89 patients (84%). Protruding arch atheromas were present in 42 patients (47%) and absent in 47 (53%). Positive and negative predictive values for large PAAs on TEE were 91% and 98%, respectively. In one case, SHI detected a complex PAA inaccessible for TEE due to interposition of the left bronchus as demonstrated by dual helical computed tomography. Inter-observer agreement for SHI was 91%. CONCLUSIONS: Suprasternal harmonic imaging reliably predicted or excluded the presence of PAAs in a sizable, consecutive group of patients referred to TEE for detection of a source of embolism. It represents an excellent screening test and provides complimentary views of regions, which may be blind spots for TEE.
OBJECTIVES: The goal of the present study was to examine whether suprasternal harmonic imaging (SHI) (i.e., harmonic imaging from the suprasternal windows) can visualize protruding arch atheromas (PAAs) and reliably predict the presence or absence of significant lesions. BACKGROUND: Protruding arch atheromas are a major source of cerebral and peripheral embolism and probably the most frequent cause of stroke during cardiac catheterization and open-heart surgery. Preprocedural screening by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) would be desirable but is limited by the nature of the examination. METHODS: Of 354 patients who underwent a TEE study in our laboratory during the study period, 106 were referred for detection of a source of embolism. Findings were classified based on the French Aortic Plaque study criteria as: 1) no or minimal atherosclerotic changes; 2) PAAs < 4 mm; 3) PAAs > or =4 mm or presence of a mobile component. RESULTS: Adequate transcutaneous image quality could be achieved in 89 patients (84%). Protruding arch atheromas were present in 42 patients (47%) and absent in 47 (53%). Positive and negative predictive values for large PAAs on TEE were 91% and 98%, respectively. In one case, SHI detected a complex PAA inaccessible for TEE due to interposition of the left bronchus as demonstrated by dual helical computed tomography. Inter-observer agreement for SHI was 91%. CONCLUSIONS: Suprasternal harmonic imaging reliably predicted or excluded the presence of PAAs in a sizable, consecutive group of patients referred to TEE for detection of a source of embolism. It represents an excellent screening test and provides complimentary views of regions, which may be blind spots for TEE.
Authors: Shinichi Iwata; Zhezhen Jin; Joseph E Schwartz; Shunichi Homma; Mitchell S V Elkind; Tatjana Rundek; Ralph L Sacco; Marco R Di Tullio Journal: Atherosclerosis Date: 2012-01-10 Impact factor: 5.162
Authors: Aylin Tugcu; Zhezhen Jin; Shunichi Homma; Mitchell S V Elkind; Tatjana Rundek; Mitsuhiro Yoshita; Charles DeCarli; Koki Nakanishi; Sofia Shames; Clinton B Wright; Ralph L Sacco; Marco R Di Tullio Journal: Stroke Date: 2016-10-11 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: P Assemat; K K Siu; J A Armitage; S N Hokke; A Dart; J Chin-Dusting; K Hourigan Journal: Comput Struct Biotechnol J Date: 2014-08-02 Impact factor: 7.271