Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging Atherosclerotic Plaque in Carotid Arteries (Literature Reviw and First Experience)

Abstract

We analize the data from a literature on an employment of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in studying the structure and stability of atherosclerotic carotid plaque and estimate the first attempt of use of the Sonovew contrast in this work. Adjustment of approach was performed on 3 patients with the atherosclerotic lesion of the carotid artery. It was carried out the traditional duplex scanning and investigation of plaque with use of the Sonovew contrast. Two plaques extracted during carotid endarterectomy were investigated hystologically. Both extracted during carotid endarterectomy plaques were characterized in ultrasonoc investigation as heterogeneous, mainly hypoechogenic. The application of the contrast reveals neovascularization in both plaques wich was proved in hystological investigation. Conclusions. The use of the Sonovew contrast allows to reveal neovascularization in the carotid plaque which serves as a marker of its nonstability. It may be used for stratification of risk and also for monitoring of an antisclerotic therapy. This is very actual for patients with the distributed atherosclerotic lessions because it allows to choose a tactic and sequence of operations in multistep surgical treatment.