Key result
Shear wave elastography measurements of the common carotid artery showed significant variability, with the mean Young's modulus being 7 kPa higher in the anterior wall compared to the posterior wall (p < 0.001).
Why the study?
Vascular shear wave elastography has gained clinical interest, but evidence regarding variability in Young modulus estimates is limited.
Observational (n=127)
No
Mean Difference: 7 (95% CI 4–10)
p-value: p=<0.001
Shear wave elastography measurements of the common carotid artery exhibit high intrinsic variability, with significant differences between anterior and posterior walls likely due to imaging artifacts, which may limit its clinical utility for assessing arterial stiffness.
Caution advised interpreting carotid shear wave elastography due to wall variability; leaves open need for standardized protocols in validation studies.
Background Recently, vascular shear wave elastography (SWE) applications have gained the interest and shown potential clinical value. However, there is limited evidence about the variability in Young’s modulus (YM) estimates. The purpose of this study was to quantify sources of variability associated with SWE measurements in common carotid artery (CCA). Results Mean YM of both anterior proximal and distal region of interest (ROIs) of the right CCA was significantly different (61 kPa vs 55.6 kPa; p < 0.001). Mean YM of anterior and posterior proximal and distal ROIs of the left side was significantly different (58.9 kPa vs 52.4 kPa; p < 0.001). Mean YM of right anterior and posterior proximal and distal ROIs was significantly different (58.3 kPa vs 51 kPa; p < 0.001). Conclusions US SWE was able to assess YM in CCAs although YM measurements were highly variable. The difference between YM between anterior and posterior walls is attributed to an artifact of the SWE technique that has not previously been reported and requires further investigation.
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Fahad Almutairi (2022) conducted an observational in Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and healthy subjects (n=127). Anterior wall region of interest (ROI) location vs. Posterior wall region of interest (ROI) location was evaluated on Mean Young's modulus (YM) (MD 7 kPa, 95% CI 4-10, p=<0.001). Shear wave elastography measurements of the common carotid artery showed significant variability, with the mean Young's modulus being 7 kPa higher in the anterior wall compared to the posterior wall (p < 0.001).
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