Power Doppler imaging correlated highly with color Doppler flow imaging for measuring area stenosis (r = 0.93) and provided better visualization of residual lumen in calcified plaques.
Observational (n=25)
Does Power Doppler imaging improve the measurement of carotid stenosis and characterization of plaque surface compared to color Doppler flow imaging in internal carotid artery stenoses?
Power Doppler imaging provides additional information for luminal measurement and plaque characterization in complicated high-grade carotid stenosis, complementing color Doppler flow imaging.
Effect estimate: r = 0.93 for area stenosis; r = 0.73 for diameter stenosis
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Power Doppler imaging (PDI) is a new ultrasound technique that, in contrast to color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), generates intravascular color signals from the reflected echo amplitude depending mainly on the density of red blood cells. We evaluated the diagnostic significance of PDI compared with CDFI for the measurement of carotid stenosis and characterization of plaque surface. METHODS: In 25 internal carotid artery stenoses, reduction of the intrastenotic lumen contrasted by blood density signals and color Doppler signals on longitudinal and transverse views was assessed for correlative evaluation. In addition, the peak systolic flow velocity of the Doppler spectrum was correlated with PDI and CDFI measurements. RESULTS: PDI provided good visualization of the residual lumen in all stenoses, whereas displays on CDFI were inadequate in two calcified plaques. PDI revealed two ulcerative stenoses classified as smooth on CDFI. The correlation between PDI and CDFI was high for measurement of area stenosis (r = .93) and moderate for diameter stenosis (r = .73). Similarly, cross-sectional reduction on both imaging methods correlated more significantly with peak systolic flow velocity than diameter reduction. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that PDI provides additional information for luminal measurement and characterization of plaque surface in complicated high-grade carotid stenosis. Because of the absent visualization of hemodynamics, PDI should be used in combination with CDFI.
Steinke et al. (1996) conducted an observational in Carotid artery stenosis (n=25). Power Doppler imaging (PDI) vs. Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) was evaluated on Correlation of area and diameter stenosis measurements between PDI and CDFI (r = 0.93 for area stenosis; r = 0.73 for diameter stenosis). Power Doppler imaging correlated highly with color Doppler flow imaging for measuring area stenosis (r = 0.93) and provided better visualization of residual lumen in calcified plaques.