Quantitative analysis of plaque neovascularization with contrast-enhanced ultrasound in rabbit model : a pilot study / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To varify contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) quantitative analysis plaque enhancement is able to assess the intraplaque neovascularization.Methods The abdominal aortas were examined with CEUS in 9 atherosclerosis rabbits established by feeding high-fat diet.Sonographic examinations were performed with ultrasound instruments equipped with low mechanical index contrast imaging software.Contrast agent SonoVue was used with a dose of 0.2 ml,The enhanced intensity (EI) with the plaque and the ratio of EI within the plaque to that in the lumen of the carotid artery was calculated with QLab software,Each aorta specimen was stained with F8 (von willebrand factor) for mierovessel.The quantitative parameters EI and ratio were compared with the immunohistochemical study results.Results The mean value of EI and ratio were (3.91 ± 0.87)dB and 0.30 ± 0.06,respectively.Five specimens showed positive F8 staining and 4 showed negative.EI and ratio were significantly greater in positive group than in negative group [(4.47 ± 0.60) dB vs (3.22 ± 0.62) dB,0.34 ± 0.05 vs 0.25 ± 0.05].CEUS quantitative parameters EI ( r =0.779,P =0.013) and ratio ( r =0.693,P =0.019) were correlated to microvessels marked with F8,respectively.Conclusions It is histologically validated that CEUS quantifies the neovascularization in atherosclerosis plaques.CEUS provides a window for plaque risk stratification.