Atherosclerosis Progression Evaluation in Coronary Arteries by Computed Tomography Compared to Peripheral Vessels Using 3D Ultrasonography

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. In recent years, several non-invasive imaging techniques have been introduced to improve the assessment of atherosclerotic burden and cardiovascular risk, including computed tomography and vascular ultrasound. Three-dimensional ultrasound has emerged as a promising method for the non-invasive quantification of plaque volume in peripheral arteries. Methods: In this prospective single-centre study, 63 patients with low to moderate cardiovascular risk (6–20% according to the Framingham Risk Score) were included. All participants underwent baseline examinations, and 38 patients completed follow-up after a mean period of 2 years. The assessment included coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) by computed tomography and three-dimensional ultrasound to measure peripheral plaque volume in carotid and femoral arteries. Baseline values and progression of coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis were analysed using Spearman’s correlation. Results: Sixty-three patients were included in the final analysis. A significant correlation was observed between baseline CACS and peripheral plaque volume (r = 0.32; p = 0.010). In addition, the progression of coronary calcium scores was significantly associated with the progression of peripheral plaque volume (r = 0.34; p = 0.037). Conclusions: Coronary artery calcium is significantly associated with peripheral plaque burden, both at baseline and over time. The parallel progression of coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis suggests that peripheral plaque volume assessed by 3D ultrasound may serve as a surrogate marker for coronary disease progression.