Abstract
Background
High-resolution ultrasound (HRU) is used to measure carotid intima-media thickness
(IMT). We postulated that very-high-resolution ultrasound (VHRU, 25–55 MHz) provides more detailed information on arterial morphology.
Methods
Rabbit and pig arterial specimens and artificial elastin membranes were studied with
HRU and VHRU, and compared to histology. Bilateral carotid, brachial, radial, ulnar,
femoral, and tibial arteries were imaged in vivo in 15 humans to determine the precision
of VHRU and in 53 teenagers to compare VHRU to HRU.
Results
The assessment of IMT, adventitia thickness (AT) and combined intima-media-adventitia
thickness (IMAT) in muscular arteries was accurate and precise by VHRU with the exception
that the AT of the smallest arteries was not delineated with 25 MHz. VHRU was accurate and precise for IMAT in small and for IMT in large elastic
arteries and allowed to qualitatively assess elastin fibers of the media. HRU was
accurate for IMT of large muscular and elastic arteries only. Intima thickness (IT)
was grossly overestimated by both VHRU and HRU.
Conclusion
Transcutaneous VHRU provides a noninvasive method of quantifying elastic and muscular
arterial AT, IMT and IMAT in children and adults, but neither VHRU nor HRU is able
to assess IT in non-diseased vessels.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 02, 2010
Accepted:
June 29,
2010
Received in revised form:
June 21,
2010
Received:
February 18,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
