Relations of carotid plaque neovascularization and ischemic stroke evaluated by CEUS QontraXt

CAI Qiu-qiong1; CHEN Ming2; JIANG Yi1; WANG Ying1; ZHAO Yun-xin1; KANG Hui-li1; YAO Guang-li1; MEI Jiang-jun1

Journal of China Clinic Medical Imaging ›› 2016, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (11) : 770-773.

CAI Qiu-qiong1, CHEN Ming2, JIANG Yi1, WANG Ying1, ZHAO Yun-xin1, KANG Hui-li1, YAO Guang-li1, MEI Jiang-jun1

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Abstract

Objective: To explore the feasibility of QontraXt software in carotid plaques by contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) on predicting ischemic stroke, and to analyze the relation between ischemic stroke and the characteristics of hypoechoic carotid plaque. Methods: Totally 114 patients with hypoechoic carotid plaque were filtrated from January 2010 to January 2013 in our hospital. The regular CEUS were performed and the data were analyzed by QontraXt software. The patients were followed-up for 3.1±0.8 years. Fifty-four patients with stroke were defined as the stroke group. Meanwhile, sixty patients without stroke were defined as the control group. The TIC curve and color enhanced image in the software were analyzed off-line. Results: Compared with the control group, the enhanced peak were significantly higher in the stroke group(34.04±4.82 vs 21.63±3.54; P=0.000). Plaques/arterial lumen enhanced intensity ratios(0.59±0.10 vs 0.46±0.18; P=0.000) in the stroke group were significantly larger. The sensitivity and specificity of enhancement figure prediction of ischemic stroke performed by QontraXt software was higher than the CEUS(35.18% vs 77.78%; 68.33% vs 90.00%). Conclusions: The quantitative analysis of carotid plaques by QontraXt software based on CEUS may help to predict the risk of ischemic stroke more precisely through the evaluation of plaque neovascularization.

Key words

Carotid arteries / Cerebrovascular accident / Ultrasonography, Doppler, color

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CAI Qiu-qiong1, CHEN Ming2, JIANG Yi1, WANG Ying1, ZHAO Yun-xin1, KANG Hui-li1, YAO Guang-li1, MEI Jiang-jun1. Relations of carotid plaque neovascularization and ischemic stroke evaluated by CEUS QontraXt[J]. Journal of China Clinic Medical Imaging. 2016, 27(11): 770-773

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