The ultrasonic appearance of in vitro normal and atherosclerotic arter
ial wall was investigated with an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) prob
e. Fresh cadaver specimens were used: two carotid, two aorta, four ili
ac and eight superficial femoral arteries. The wall of muscular arteri
es has a three-layered sonographic appearance. The central hypoechoic
layer corresponds to the media, which is primarily composed of smooth
muscle. Elastic arteries whose media have a high elastin content appea
r uniformly echogenic. Calcified plaque is strongly echogenic with aco
ustic shadowing, fibrous plaque is moderately echogenic, and where the
re is no cellular matrix the plaque is poorly echogenic. IVUS can prov
ide information about internal plaque architecture. Three-dimensional
reconstructions can be generated using a transputer-based workstation
coupled to the transducer, providing detailed views of surface contour
.