A comparative study of color Doppler imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the detection of ulceration in patients with carotid atherosclerotic disease

Carotid Atherosclerosis, Ultrasound and Lipoproteins

“…A definition of carotid plaque ulceration using CEUS is an interruption of the plaque–lumen border of at least 1.1 mm with filling of the interruption with microbubble contrast medium [ 74 ]. CEUS is, compared with the traditional method of echo-color Doppler, more accurate in the detection of ulceration, especially in terms of sensitivity [ 75 ]. Another important aspect of CEUS that outperforms echo-color Doppler is the possibility of studying neovascularization of the plaque, another characteristic that renders plaques unstable.…”

General principles and overview of vascular contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

“…In this respect, UCAs can be used to accurately diagnose superficial plaque ulcerations, which can be detected with improved sensitivity compared to color Doppler US and represent an essential feature of plaque vulnerability (Fig. 4) [41][42][43][44]. On a microvascular level, CEUS can accurately evaluate intraplaque neovascularization, both qualitatively and quantitatively using TIC analysis.…”

Ultrasonography of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries: B-mode imaging

“…As for ulceration, its atypical position in relation to atherosclerotic plaque, usually at the margin of the plaque, and the presence of marginal calcification at the edges of ulceration, are characteristic features (41)(42)(43) (Fig. 13).…”