Logo image
Determination of carotid plaque risk by ultrasonic tissue characterization
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Determination of carotid plaque risk by ultrasonic tissue characterization

Daniel J Lee, Bernard Sigel, Vanlila K Swami, Jeffery R Justin, Vivian Gahtan, Sean P O’Brien, Lisa Dwyer-Joyce, Ernest J Feleppa, Andrew B Roberts and Henry D Berkowitz
Ultrasound in medicine & biology, v 24(9), pp 1291-1299
1998
PMID: 10385951

Abstract

Carotid plaques Risk Spectral analysis Stroke Transient ischemic attacks Ultrasonic tissue characterization Ultrasound
This in vitro study investigated the ability of ultrasonic tissue characterization (UTC) to discriminate between plaques from asymptomatic and symptomatic patients and to compare UTC findings with quantitative measurements of plaque morphology. A total of 34 plaque specimens removed at carotid endarterectomy were scanned transversely at intervals of 1 mm, and compared to tissue cross-sections examined by optical microscopy employing computer-assisted planimetry. UTC was performed by spectral analysis of backscattered radiofrequency signals. The slope, intercept and total power parameters of the spectrum were evaluated. Discriminant analysis was used to compare the ability of the UTC spectral parameters and morphological constituents to correctly classify plaques according to their symptom group membership. UTC correctly classified 88.2% of the plaques. Thrombus was present in 93.9% of the plaques, and there was little difference in the morphological constituents of plaques from asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Morphological constituents correctly classified 60.7% of the plaques. We conclude, in this preliminary study, that UTC can discriminate between carotid plaques from asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with moderate accuracy, despite a similarity in their morphological composition. UTC discrimination is not related to differences in the type or amount of morphological constituents in the plaques.

Metrics

5 Record Views
37 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Acoustics
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Logo image