Three-dimensional ultrasound demonstrated a higher detection rate of carotid plaques than two-dimensional ultrasound (77.9% vs. 50.4%) and accurately assessed plaque volume compared to CTA.
Observational (n=73)
Does 3D-US improve the detection and volume assessment of carotid plaques compared to 2D-US in stroke patients?
3D-US using a single sweep technique is a feasible and more accurate method than 2D-US for detecting carotid plaques and assessing plaque volume, showing high correlation with CTA.
Absolute Event Rate: 77.9% vs 50.4%
Abstract Aims Two‐dimensional ultrasound (2D‐US) is the mainstay imaging technique used to evaluate carotid atherosclerosis. An automated single sweep three‐dimensional ultrasound (3D‐US) technique became available. We evaluated the feasibility and accuracy of 3D‐US in the assessment of carotid plaques compared to those of 2D‐US. Carotid computed tomography angiography (CTA) was used as a reference. Methods and results Among 126 stroke patients who underwent carotid 2D‐US, 73 underwent 3D‐US and carotid CTA. 3D‐US was pursued when there were carotid plaques or when area stenosis was ≥ 20% by 2D‐US. Both 2D‐ and 3D‐US images of the carotid arteries were acquired using a dedicated ultrasound system that was equipped with the single sweep volumetric transducer. In total, 266 arteries from 73 patients were selected for comparison of the detection rate of carotid plaques between 2D‐ and 3D‐US. Among the 73 patients, carotid CTA detected 139 plaques. 3D‐US demonstrated a higher detection rate of carotid plaques than did 2D‐US (108 plaques (77.9%) vs. 70 plaques (50.4%)) when using carotid CTA as a reference standard. Carotid plaque volume (PV) of 133 vessels from 73 patients were quantitatively evaluated using both 3D‐US and carotid CTA. Plaque volume of carotid artery was comparable between 3D‐US and CTA (148.5 ± 133.0 mm 3 vs. 154.1 ± 134.6 mm 3 , P = .998, R: 0.9825, P ‐value for r < .001). Conclusion 3D‐US using a single sweep technique was a feasible and accurate method of detecting arterial plaques and assessing plaque volume.
Song et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Carotid atherosclerosis in stroke patients (n=73). Three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) vs. Two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) was evaluated on Detection rate of carotid plaques using CTA as a reference standard. Three-dimensional ultrasound demonstrated a higher detection rate of carotid plaques than two-dimensional ultrasound (77.9% vs. 50.4%) and accurately assessed plaque volume compared to CTA.