MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques (95 plaques) were studied on CEUS. Contrast enhancement in the plaque was evaluated with visual interpretation and quantitative analysis. The intraplaque neovascularisation (IPN) test was graded on a 3- point scale. IPN was quantified using dedicated software for CEUS image analysis.
RESULTS: It was found that the CEUS quantitative parameters were significantly different for plaques with varying types of echoes. The quantitative parameters also differed in soft, hard, and mixed plaques. The quantification of carotid IPN using CEUS was found feasible. The quantitative parameters measured from CEUS provide multiple references for carotid IPN of different echo types. This can help identify and monitor unstable atherosclerotic plaques.
CONCLUSION: CEUS has the potential to be an important tool in clinical application, specifically for diagnosing carotid atherosclerotic plaque features and vulnerability.