ASSESSMENT OF AUTOPSIC SAMPLES OF CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN THE AGEDBY INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND

To assess the value of intravascular ultrasound in detecting carotid a therosclerosis, we compared the ultrasound images of 48 carotid artery segments from autopsies with their histological findings. The results showed that by intravascular ultrasonography one could distinguish be tween elastic and muscular tissues of arteries, determine the lesions of fibroelastosis and calcified plaques on arterial wall, and precisel y measure the wall thickness, inner and outer diameter, luminal area a nd cross-sectional area of arteries with a high correlation between th e data measured from ultrasonography and histological study (r values were 0.98, 0.97, 0.97, 0.96 and 0.96, respectively). This study sugges ts that intravascular ultrasound might be effectively used for morphol ogical study and detection of atherosclerotic lesions in vivo.