Ultrasound shear wave dispersion imaging in evaluation of carotid viscoelasticity / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the feasibility of ultrasound shear wave dispersion imaging (USWD) in evaluating carotid viscoelasticity. Methods: Totally 45 volunteers were recruited and divided into 2 groups according to age, i.e. ≥50 years old group (n=23) and <50 years old group (n=22). Four shear wave viscoelastic modulus of the common carotid artery (CCA), including shear wave elastic modulus values of the superficial and deep walls (SWES and SWED), shear wave dispersion values of superficial and deep walls (SWDS and SWDD) were obtained using USWD, respectively. In addition, the pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured. The viscoelastic indexes were compared between the two groups, and the correlations with age, blood pressure and PWV were analyzed. Results: Before and after adjusted with body mass index, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), SWES, SWED, SWDS and SWDD were higher in <50 years old group than those in ≥50 years old group (all P<0.05). Among all subjects, SWE was negatively correlated with age, SBP, DBP and PWV, respectively (r=-0.282, -0.374, -0.321, -0.256, all P<0.05). SWD was negatively correlated with PWV in ≥50 years old group (r=-0.393, P=0.038), while positively correlated with SBP in <50 years old group (r=0.366, P=0.048). Conclusion: The viscoelasticity of arterial wall can be non-invasively and quantitatively assessed with USWD.