Computerized Texture Analysis of Carotid Plaque Ultrasonic Images Can Identify Unstable Plaques Associated With Ipsilateral Neurological Symptoms

作者：Kakkos Stavros K; Nicolaides Andrew N; Kyriacou Efthyvoulos; Daskalopoulou Stella S; Sabetai Michael M; Pattichis Constantinos S; Geroulakos George^*; Griffin Maura B; Thomas Dafydd

来源：Angiology, 2011, 62(4): 317-328.

DOI：10.1177/0003319710384397

• stroke
• carotid artery plaque
• ultrasound
• texture analysis
• echodensity

We estimated the value of objective, computerized texture analysis of ultrasonic images in distinguishing carotid plaques associated with neurological ipsilateral symptoms (amaurosis fugax [AmF; n = 30], transient ischemic attack [TIA; n = 52], and stroke [n = 55]) from asymptomatic plaques (n = 51). We performed 3 case-control studies (1/symptom with asymptomatic plaques as control). On logistic regression, AmF was independently associated with severity of stenosis, percentage of pixels with gray levels 0 to 10 (PPCS1; measure of echolucency), and spatial gray level dependence matrices (SGLDM) information measure of correlation (IMC-1; texture); TIAs with PPCS1 (echolucency), SGLDM correlation, and skewness (both texture); and stroke with PPCS1, SGLDM correlation, and percentage of pixels with gray levels 11 to 20 (PPCS2; echolucency). The area under the curve of the regression-derived predicted probability for AmF, TIA, and stroke was 0.92, 0.82, and 0.85, respectively (all P < .001). Texture analysis can identify carotid plaques associated with a neurological event, improving the diagnostic value of echolucency measures. Texture analyses could be applied to natural history studies.

• 出版日期2011-5