RESUMO
Objective:To evaluate carotid plaque neovascularization and vessel stability using superb microvascular imaging.Methods:Seventy-two patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques received treatment in The Seventh People's Hospital of Wenzhou from June 2018 to June 2020 and were included in this study. A total of 100 carotid plaques were surgically removed from these patients. These patients were subject to superb microvascular imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography before carotid plaques were removed. Taking pathological results of carotid plaque as a gold standard, we investigated the efficacy of superb microvascular imaging versus contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in detecting carotid plaque neovascularization and vessel stability and evaluated the detection consistency of each imaging method with the gold standard. Results:The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of superb microvascular imaging in detecting carotid plaque neovascularization were 93.24%, 92.31%, and 93.00%, and they were 95.96%, 96.15%, and 96.00% for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. The Kappa values of consistency of agreement on carotid plaque neovascularization identification were 0.825 and 0.923 for superb microvascular imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of superb microvascular imaging in detecting vessel stability were 94.74%, 95.35%, and 95.00%, respectively and they were 96.49%, 97.67%, and 97.00%, respectively for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. The Kappa values of consistency of agreement on vessel stability evaluation were 0.898 and 0.939 for superb microvascular imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, respectively.Conclusion:Superb microvascular imaging has equivalent efficacy in detecting carotid plaque neovascularization and vessel stability to contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Superb microvascular imaging is non-invasive, provides ease in operation, and is worthy of clinical promotion.