Mi. Matsagas et al., Computer-assisted ultrasonographic analysis of carotid plaques in relationto cerebrovascular symptoms, cerebral infarction, and histology, ANN VASC S, 14(2), 2000, pp. 130-137
The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between plaqu
e echogenicity as measured by computer and the incidence of cerebrovascular
symptoms and cerebral infarction. The correlation between carotid plaque e
chogenicity and plaque histology was also evaluated. In this prospective no
nrandomized study, 38 consecutive patients with 54 atherosclerotic carotid
plaques producing 50-99% stenosis were reviewed. The ultrasonic images of t
he plaques were digitized and transferred to a computer. A histogram for ea
ch plaque representing its composition was obtained. The median of the gray
scale (GSM) of each histogram was used as measure of plaque echogenicity.
Ail patients had a computed tomography (GT) brain scan performed to determi
ne the presence of cerebral infarction. Twenty-eight plaques were examined
histologically to determine the deposition of calcium, hemorrhage, choleste
rol, and amorphous granular material. It is possible to identify carotid pl
aques at high risk for development of cerebrovascular symptoms and cerebral
infarction by the computerized measurement of plaque echogenicity. This me
thod may be used to improve the criteria of patients selection for carotid
endarterectomy.