Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging of Intraplaque Neovascularization in Carotid Arteries

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2008-07, Vol.52 (3), p.223-230
• Main Authors: Coli, Stefano, MD, Magnoni, Marco, MD, Sangiorgi, Giuseppe, MD, FESC, Marrocco-Trischitta, Massimiliano M., MD, Melisurgo, Giulio, MD, Mauriello, Alessandro, MD, Spagnoli, Luigi, MD, Chiesa, Roberto, MD, Cianflone, Domenico, MD, FESC, Maseri, Attilio, MD, FACC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular; carotid artery; contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging; imaging; Internal Medicine; vasa vasorum
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2008.02.082

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging of Intraplaque Neovascularization in Carotid Arteries: Correlation With Histology and Plaque Echogenicity Stefano Coli, Marco Magnoni, Giuseppe Sangiorgi, Massimiliano M. Marrocco-Trischitta, Giulio Melisurgo, Alessandro Mauriello, Luigi Spagnoli, Roberto Chiesa, Domenico Cianflone, Attilio Maseri Plaque neovascularization is associated with vulnerable and symptomatic atherosclerosis; therefore, we have evaluated carotid contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging as a clinical tool to study intraplaque neovascularization. Thirty-two patients with 52 plaques were studied. In 17 patients, the surgical specimen was available for histological determination of microvessel density. In the surgical subgroup, plaques with higher contrast-agent enhancement showed a greater microvessel density. In the whole series of 52 lesions, echolucent plaques showed a greater contrast-agent enhancement. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging can be used to study carotid plaque neovascularization and may become a tool to identify vulnerable plaques and monitor response to therapy.