Ultrasound speckle tracking strain estimation of in vivo carotid artery plaque with in vitro sonomicrometry validation

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2015 Jan;41(1):77-88. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2014.06.013. Epub 2014 Oct 11.

Abstract

Our objective was to validate a previously developed speckle tracking (ST) algorithm to assess strain in common carotid artery plaques. Radial and longitudinal strain was measured in common carotid artery gel phantoms with a plaque-mimicking inclusion using an in-house ST algorithm and sonomicrometry. Moreover, plaque strain by ST for seven patients (77 ± 6 y) with carotid atherosclerosis was compared with a quantitative visual assessment by two experienced physicians. In vitro, good correlation existed between ST and sonomicrometry peak strains, both radially (r = 0.96, p < 0.001) and longitudinally (r = 0.75, p < 0.01). In vivo, greater pulse pressure-adjusted radial and longitudinal strains were found in echolucent plaques than in echogenic plaques. This illustrates the feasibility of ultrasound ST strain estimation in plaques and the possibility of characterizing plaques using ST strain in vivo.

Keywords: Carotid artery; In vitro; In vivo; Phantom; Plaque characterization; Speckle tracking; Strain; Ultrasound; Validation.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Carotid Stenosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carotid Stenosis / physiopathology*
  • Elastic Modulus
  • Elasticity Imaging Techniques / instrumentation
  • Elasticity Imaging Techniques / methods*
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Stress, Mechanical