ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the value of quantitative measurement of carotid intima-media thickness and elasticity for evaluating the degree of coronary heart disease by radio frequency ultrasonography. Methods From February 2011 to June 2012, a total of 142 subjects in cardiovascular internal medicine of the fourth military medical university Tangdu hospital with suspected CAD were enrolled in this study and were divided into non CAD group (n=35), atherosclerosis group in which coronary stenosis rate was less than 50%and no hemodynamic changes were detected (n=33), single artery involved group in which coronary stenosis rate was more than 50% (n=36) and multi-artery involved group in which coronary stenosis rate was more than 50%(n=38) based on the results of the coronary angiography (CAG). Measure the left common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and blood vessel elasticity index including the left common carotid artery pulse wave velocity (PWV) and stiffness index (β). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to calculate and compare the degrees of coronary heart disease, area under the curve of the left carotid artery elasticity parameters, cut-off value,sensitivity, speciifcity and Youden's index. Results LIMT, LPWV and Lβhad statistical signiifcance differences among four groups (F=3.621, 4.769 and 4.756, all P<0.05). The maximum values of parameter area under ROC curve were all observed in multi-artery involved groups and were 0.759 (LIMT), 0.770 (LPWV) and 0.764 (Lβ). The maximum value of Youden's index of the left common carotid artery intima-media thickness was observed in the coronary atherosclerosis group and was 0.513. The maximum value of Youden's index of the left common carotid artery pulse wave velocity and stiffnessβwere both observed in the multi-artery involved group and were 0.524 and 0.469. For diagnosing multivessel lesions, the sensitivities of LIMT, LPWV and Lβwere 71.0%, 77.4%and 71.0%, and the speciifcities were 73.4%, 74.7%and 75.9%. Conclusions The carotid elastic parameters have better predictive value for multivessel lesions. LPWV and Lβhave higher predictive value for coronary arterial disease than LIMT.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH) using ultrasound radio-frequency data(RF-data) technology.Methods Twenty-seven PIH women(mean brachial blood pressure:108 mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)were included and thirty age- and gestational week-matched normal pregnant women served as controls.Carotid IMT and stiffness were evaluated using quality IMT(QIMT) and quantitative artery stiffness(QAS)techniques with color Doppler.Results Carotid IMT and elasticity parameters,including pulse wave velocity,pressure at T1,arterial augmented pressure(AP) and arterial augmented pressure index(AIx) were significantly higher in PIH group than in the normal group[IMT:(466.84±118.50)μm vs (386.58±125.79)μm;PWV:(7.09±1.97)m/s vs (5.95±1.11) m/s;PT1:(127.50±14.29) mm Hg vs (105.89±11.02)mm Hg;AP:(5.14±3.39) mm Hg vs (1.98±2.19)mm Hg;AIx:(7.58±8.73)% vs (-4.79±7.92)%)], and there were significant differences(t=2.660,2.660,3.460,3.460,3.460,all P＜0.01).Conclusions PIH women have significantly increased carotid IMT and decreased elasticity compared with normal pregnant women.Radio-frequency technique could reliably reflect the changes of the carotid arterial structure and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the clinical value of intraoperative ultrasonography for real-time guidance when performing microneurosurgical resection of small subcortical lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients with small subcortical lesions were involved in this study. The pathological diagnoses were cavernous hemangioma in 25 cases, cerebral glioma in eight cases, abscess in eight cases, small inflammatory lesion in five cases, brain parasite infection in four cases and the presence of an intracranial foreign body in two cases. An ultrasonic probe was sterilized and lightly placed on the surface of the brain during the operation. The location, extent, characteristics and adjacent tissue of the lesion were observed by high frequency ultrasonography during the operation. RESULTS: All the lesions were located in the cortex and their mean size was 1.3 +/- 0.2 cm. Intraoperative ultrasonography accurately located all the small subcortical lesions, and so the neurosurgeon could provide appropriate treatment. Different lesion pathologies presented with different ultrasonic appearances. Cavernous hemangioma exhibited irregular shapes with distinct margins and it was mildly hyperechoic or hyperechoic. The majority of the cerebral gliomas displayed irregular shapes with indistinct margins, and they often showed cystic and solid mixed echoes. Postoperative imaging identified that the lesions had completely disappeared, and the original symptoms of all the patients were significantly alleviated. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative ultrasonography can help accurately locate small subcortical lesions and it is helpful for selecting the proper approach and guiding thorough resection of these lesions.