Utility of 3-Dimensional Ultrasound Imaging to Evaluate Carotid Artery Stenosis: Comparison with Magnetic Resonance Angiography

作者：Igase Keiji; Kumon Yoshiaki^*; Matsubara Ichiro; Arai Masamori; Goishi Junji; Watanabe Hideaki; Ohnishi Takanori; Sadamoto Kazuhiko

来源：Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2015, 24(1): 148-153.

DOI：10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2014.08.007

• Carotid artery stenosis
• 3-dimensional ultrasonography
• magnetic resonance angiography
• ulceration
• mobile plaque

Background: We evaluated the utility of 3-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound imaging for assessment of carotid artery stenosis, as compared with similar assessment via magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Methods: Subjects comprised 58 patients with carotid stenosis who underwent both 3-D ultrasound imaging and MRA. We studied whether abnormal findings detected by ultrasound imaging could be diagnosed using MRA. Ultrasound images were generated using Voluson 730 Expert and Voluson E8. Results: The degree of stenosis was mild in 17, moderate in 16, and severe in 25 patients, according to ultrasound imaging. Stenosis could not be recognized using MRA in 4 of 17 patients diagnosed with mild stenosis using ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound imaging showed ulceration in 13 patients and mobile plaque in 6 patients. When assessing these patients, MRA showed ulceration in only 2 of 13 patients and did not detect mobile plaque in any of these 6 patients. Static 3-D B mode images demonstrated distributions of plaque, ulceration, and mobile plaque, and static 3-D flow images showed flow configuration as a total structure. Real-time 3-D B mode images demonstrated plaque and vessel movement. Carotid artery stenting was not selected for patients diagnosed with ulceration or mobile plaque. Conclusions: Ultrasound imaging was necessary to detect mild stenosis, ulcerated plaque, or mobile plaque in comparison with MRA, and 3-D ultrasound imaging was useful to recognize carotid stenosis and flow pattern as a total structure by static and real-time 3-D demonstration. This information may contribute to surgical planning.

• 出版日期2015-1