D A Clevert1, W H Sommer, A Helck, T Saam, M Reiser. 1. Department of Clinical Radiology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. Dirk.Clevert@med.uni-muenchen.de
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate neovascularisation within carotid atherosclerotic plaques with contrast enhanced ultrasound. METHODS: We used contrast-enhanced ultrasound to examine 33 patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Plaque size and echogenicity were analyzed and we correlated neovascularization within the plaques. RESULTS: There were 41 atherosclerotic plaques, 27 plaques enhanced after the injection of a contrast agent. Among the group of enhancing plaques we found 8 soft- and 19 mixed plaques. The overall thickness ranging in enhanced plaques was from 1.8 to 4.6 mm. In all cases the contrast uptake in the plaques was later than in the carotid artery. Among the 14 unenhanced atherosclerotic plaques, 4 plaques presented as hard plaques, three calcified plaques, two soft plaques and five presented as mixed plaques. The overall thickness ranging in unenhanced plaques was from 1.7 to 6 mm. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound allows the non invasive, dynamic evaluation of neovascularisation within carotid plaques.
PURPOSE: To evaluate neovascularisation within carotid atherosclerotic plaques with contrast enhanced ultrasound. METHODS: We used contrast-enhanced ultrasound to examine 33 patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Plaque size and echogenicity were analyzed and we correlated neovascularization within the plaques. RESULTS: There were 41 atherosclerotic plaques, 27 plaques enhanced after the injection of a contrast agent. Among the group of enhancing plaques we found 8 soft- and 19 mixed plaques. The overall thickness ranging in enhanced plaques was from 1.8 to 4.6 mm. In all cases the contrast uptake in the plaques was later than in the carotid artery. Among the 14 unenhanced atherosclerotic plaques, 4 plaques presented as hard plaques, three calcified plaques, two soft plaques and five presented as mixed plaques. The overall thickness ranging in unenhanced plaques was from 1.7 to 6 mm. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound allows the non invasive, dynamic evaluation of neovascularisation within carotid plaques.
Authors: Clemens C Cyran; Philipp M Paprottka; Michel Eisenblätter; Dirk A Clevert; Carsten Rist; Konstantin Nikolaou; Kirsten Lauber; Frederik Wenz; Daniel Hausmann; Maximilian F Reiser; Claus Belka; Maximilian Niyazi Journal: Radiat Oncol Date: 2014-01-03 Impact factor: 3.481
Authors: Anna Bayer-Karpinska; Florian Schwarz; Frank A Wollenweber; Holger Poppert; Tobias Boeckh-Behrens; Alexander Becker; Dirk A Clevert; Konstantin Nikolaou; Christian Opherk; Martin Dichgans; Tobias Saam Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2013-12-13 Impact factor: 2.474