New Quantification Methods for Carotid Intra-plaque Neovascularization Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

As carotid intra-plaque neovascularization (IPN) is linked to progressive atherosclerotic disease and plaque vulnerability, its accurate quantification might allow early detection of plaque vulnerability. We therefore developed several new quantitative methods for analyzing IPN perfusion and structure. From our analyses, we derived six quantitative parameters—IPN surface area (IPNSA), IPN surface ratio (IPNSR), plaque mean intensity, plaque-to-lumen enhancement ratio, mean plaque contrast percentage and number of micro-vessels (MVN)—and compared these with visual grading of IPN by two independent physicians. A total of 45 carotid arteries with symptomatic stenosis in 23 patients were analyzed. IPNSA (correlation r = 0.719), IPNSR (r = 0.538) and MVN (r = 0.484) were found to be significantly correlated with visual scoring (p < 0.01). IPNSA was the best match to visual scoring. These results indicate that IPNSA, IPNSR and MVN may have the potential to replace qualitative visual scoring and to measure the degree of carotid IPN.     

Relationship between Plaque Echo,Thickness and Neovascularization Assessed by Quantitative and Semi-quantitative Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in Different Stenosis Groups

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between plaque echo, thickness and neovascularization in different stenosis groups using quantitative and semi-quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in patients with carotid atherosclerosis plaque. A total of 224 plaques were divided into mild stenosis (<50%; 135 plaques, 60.27%), moderate stenosis (50%–69%; 39 plaques, 17.41%) and severe stenosis (70%–99%; 50 plaques, 22.32%) groups. Quantitative and semi-quantitative methods were used to assess plaque neovascularization and determine the relationship between plaque echo, thickness and neovascularization. Correlation analysis revealed no relationship of neovascularization with plaque echo in the groups using either quantitative or semi-quantitative methods. Furthermore, there was no correlation of neovascularization with plaque thickness using the semi-quantitative method. The ratio of areas under the curve (RAUC) was negatively correlated with plaque thickness (r?=??0.317, p?=?0.001) in the mild stenosis group. With the quartile method, plaque thickness of the mild stenosis group was divided into four groups, with significant differences between the 1.5–2.2?mm and ≥3.5?mm groups (p?=?0.002), 2.3–2.8?mm and ≥3.5?mm groups (p?<0.001) and 2.9–3.4?mm and ≥3.5?mm groups (p?<0.001). Both semi-quantitative and quantitative CEUS methods characterizing neovascularization of plaque are equivalent with respect to assessing relationships between neovascularization, echogenicity and thickness. However, the quantitative method could fail for plaque <3.5?mm because of motion artifacts.     

超微血管成像评价颈动脉斑块内新生血管

目的 探讨超微血管成像(SMI)评价颈动脉斑块内新生血管的价值。方法 随机选取颈动脉粥样硬化斑块患者57例,所有患者均接受常规超声及SMI,其中33例接受CEUS检查,13例接受颈动脉斑块内膜剥脱术(CEA)获得病理结果。评价SMI结果与CEUS及病理结果的一致性。结果 SMI显示斑块内新生血管评分0分11例,1分22例,2分24例。CEUS结果显示新生血管评分0分5例,1分8例,2分20例,SMI与CEUS评分有较好的一致性(Kappa=0.607,P<0.001)。病理检查显示斑块内新生血管评分0分2例,1分5例,2分6例,与SMI有较好的相关性(r=0.75)。结论 SMI可显示斑块内新生血管,对评价颈动脉斑块内新生血管具有重要参考价值。     

Hepatic Perfusion Parameters of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography Correlate With the Severity of Chronic Liver Disease

In the study described here, we introduced a new ratio acquired with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS): a liver parenchyma blood supply ratio that differentiates arterial and portal phases. Our purpose was to determine whether this ratio and other liver parenchyma perfusion parameters acquired with CEUS can be correlated with the severity of chronic liver disease. Twelve patients with non-cirrhotic chronic liver disease, 35 patients with cirrhosis (child class A: n = 10; child class B: n = 13; child class C: n = 12) and 21 healthy volunteers were examined by CEUS. Time–intensity curves were drawn for regions of interest located in liver parenchyma and right kidney cortex using QLAB quantification software. The arterial and portal phases were differentiated by the time to the maximum enhancement of right kidney and liver parenchyma perfusion data acquired from the time–intensity curves: the intensity of liver parenchyma perfused by hepatic arterial flow (I_ap), the intensity of total perfusion of liver parenchyma (I_peak), the intensity of liver parenchyma perfused by portal venous flow (I_pp) and the ratio of portal perfusion to total perfusion of liver parenchyma expressed by the parameters I_pp/I_peak, I_peak, I_pp and I_pp/I_peak significantly decreased in patients with cirrhosis and in patients with non-cirrhotic chronic liver disease, whereas I_ap increased. The parameters I_pp, I_peak, I_pp/I_peak and I_ap correlated with the severity of chronic liver disease (r = ?0.938, p < 0.001; r = ?0.790, p < 0.001; r = ?0.931 p < 0.001; r = 0.31, p < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy rates for cirrhosis expressed as areas under receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.93 for I_peak, 0.98 for I_pp, 0.98 for I_pp/I_peak, and 0.69 for I_ap. Liver parenchyma perfusion parameters obtained by CEUS were correlated with the severity of chronic liver disease and have the potential to assess cirrhosis non-invasively.     

超声造影定量评价动脉粥样硬化斑块新生血管及其与组织病理学的相关性

目的 应用CEUS技术定量评价动脉粥样硬化斑块增强强度及其与病理染色所示的新生血管密度的相关性。方法 选取新西兰白兔25只,高脂饲养4周后,以球囊扩张腹主动脉,再高脂饲养16周,建立动脉粥样硬化模型;行常规超声及CEUS检查,观察不同类型斑块的增强情况,应用时间-强度曲线定量分析动脉粥样硬化斑块的增强强度,以CD31染色观察斑块内新生血管的密度。应用非配对t检验比较软斑与硬斑造影强度及新生血管密度的差异;Pearson相关分析动脉粥样硬化斑块CEUS增强强度与斑块新生血管密度的相关性。结果 二维超声诊断为软斑的斑块在CEUS中的增强强度明显高于硬斑(P<0.05);软斑的新生血管密度明显高于硬斑(P<0.05);斑块内新生血管密度与斑块造影增强强度存在明显相关性(r=0.75,P<0.001),与斑块增强强度/管腔增强强度亦存在明显相关性(r=0.68,P<0.001)。结论 CEUS可定量评价兔动脉粥样硬化斑块的增强情况;斑块增强强度与斑块内新生血管密度具有良好的相关性。     

Correlation of Cognitive Function with Ultrasound Strain Indices in Carotid Plaque

Instability in carotid vulnerable plaque can generate cerebral micro-emboli, which may be related to both stroke and eventual cognitive abnormality. Strain imaging to detect plaque vulnerability based on regions with large strain fluctuations, with arterial pulsation, may be able to determine the risk of cognitive impairment. Plaque instability may be characterized by increased strain variations over a cardiac cycle. Radiofrequency signals for ultrasound strain imaging were acquired from the carotid arteries of 24 human patients using a Siemens Antares with a VFX 13-5 linear array transducer. These patients underwent standardized cognitive assessment (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status [RBANS]). Plaque regions were segmented by a radiologist at end-diastole using the Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit. A hierarchical block-matching motion tracking algorithm was used to estimate the cumulated axial, lateral and shear strains within the imaging plane. The maximum, minimum and peak-to-peak strain indices in the plaque computed from the mean cumulated strain over a small region of interest in the plaque with large deformations were obtained. The maximum and peak-to-peak mean cumulated strain indices over the entire plaque region were also computed. All strain indices were then correlated with RBANS Total performance. Overall cognitive performance (RBANS Total) was negatively associated with values of the maximum strain and the peak-to-peak for axial and lateral strains, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the RBANS Total score and shear strain and strain indices averaged over the entire identified plaque for this group of patients. However, correlation of maximum lateral strain was higher for symptomatic patients (r = −0.650, p = 0.006) than for asymptomatic patients (r = −0.115, p = 0.803). On the other hand, correlation of maximum axial strain averaged over the entire plaque region was significantly higher for asymptomatic patients (r = −0.817, p = 0.016) than for symptomatic patients (r = −0.224, p = 0.402). The results reveal a direct relationship between the maximum axial and lateral strain indices in carotid plaque and cognitive impairment.     

Effects of Noradrenaline and Adenosine Triphosphate on the Degree on Contrast Enhancement in a Rabbit Model of Atherosclerosis during Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography

The aim of the study is to assess the effects of vasoactive agents on the degree of contrast enhancement in experimental atherosclerotic plaque during contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). Abdominal aortic atherosclerosis was induced in 25 New Zealand white rabbits by a combination of cholesterol-rich diet and balloon endothelial denudation. Standard ultrasonography and CEUS were performed at baseline and during intravenous infusion of noradrenaline or adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The degree of contrast enhancement of the plaque after injection of contrast material was quantified by calculating the enhanced intensity in the plaque. The infusion of noradrenaline induced significant increase in systolic blood pressure (84 ± 13 mm Hg vs. 112 ± 20 mm Hg, p = 0.011) and significant decrease in the enhanced intensity in the plaque (7.52 ± 1.32 dB vs. 5.88 ± 1.33 dB, p < 0.001) during CEUS. The infusion of ATP resulted in the significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (80 ± 13 mm Hg vs. 65 ± 11 mm Hg, p = 0.005) and increase in the enhanced intensity in the plaque (7.52 ± 1.32 dB vs. 8.84 ± 1.55 dB, p < 0.001) during CEUS. The degree of contrast enhancement within an experimental atherosclerotic plaque during CEUS can be influenced by vasoactive agents and hemodynamic status.     

In Vivo Adaptive Bayesian Regularized Lagrangian Carotid Strain Imaging for Murine Carotid Arteries and Its Associations With Histological Findings

ObjectivesNon-invasive methods for monitoring arterial health and identifying early injury to optimize treatment for patients are desirable. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the use of an adaptive Bayesian regularized Lagrangian carotid strain imaging (ABR-LCSI) algorithm for monitoring of atherogenesis in a murine model and examine associations between the ultrasound strain measures and histology.MethodsUltrasound radiofrequency (RF) data were acquired from both the right and left common carotid artery (CCA) of 10 (5 male and 5 female) ApoE ^tm1Unc/J mice at 6, 16 and 24 wk. Lagrangian accumulated axial, lateral and shear strain images and three strain indices—maximum accumulated strain index (MASI), peak mean strain of full region of interest (ROI) index (PMSRI) and strain at peak axial displacement index (SPADI)—were estimated using the ABR-LCSI algorithm. Mice were euthanized (n = 2 at 6 and 16 wk, n = 6 at 24 wk) for histology examination.ResultsSex-specific differences in strain indices of mice at 6, 16 and 24 wk were observed. For male mice, axial PMSRI and SPADI changed significantly from 6 to 24 wk (mean axial PMSRI at 6 wk = 14.10 ± 5.33% and that at 24 wk = –3.03 ± 5.61%, p < 0.001). For female mice, lateral MASI increased significantly from 6 to 24 wk (mean lateral MASI at 6 wk = 10.26 ± 3.13% and that at 24 wk = 16.42 ± 7.15%, p = 0.048). Both cohorts exhibited strong associations with ex vivo histological findings (male mice: correlation between number of elastin fibers and axial PMSRI: r_s = 0.83, p = 0.01; female mice: correlation between shear MASI and plaque score: r_s = 0.77, p = 0.009).ConclusionThe results indicate that ABR-LCSI can be used to measure arterial wall strain in a murine model and that changes in strain are associated with changes in arterial wall structure and plaque formation.     

Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Using Perflubutane Microbubbles for Diagnosing Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis in Rats

We determined the ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using perflubutane microbubbles to diagnose liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rats using histology as the reference standard. Fibrosis was induced by oral administration of carbon tetrachloride to 32 Wistar rats. Features with baseline ultrasound (US) and enhancement level of liver and spleen with CEUS were obtained. In the post-vascular phase of CEUS, images of normal livers (n = 5) were significantly brighter than images of fibrotic (n = 6) and cirrhotic livers (n = 13) by quantitative analysis (all p < 0.05). The contrast between livers and spleens in rats with cirrhosis was quantitatively greater than that in normal rats and rats with fibrosis (all p < 0.05). Compared with US, CEUS improved sensitivity from 63% to 84% and accuracy from 71% to 88%. Specificity was 100% for both. The increased value of CEUS in diagnosing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rats supports its evaluation in clinical trials.     

Qualitative and Quantitative Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Combined with Conventional Ultrasound for Predicting the Malignancy of Soft Tissue Tumors

This study was aimed at evaluating the performance of perfusion patterns and the quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the detection of soft tissue tumors (STTs) and establishing a US workflow for STTs to improve patient management. Conventional ultrasound (US) and CEUS data were retrospectively collected from 156 soft tissue masses. Six perfusion patterns (P1–P6) were applied for CEUS qualitative analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the performance of conventional US and qualitative and quantitative CEUS in distinguishing benign and malignant STTs. The malignancy rates of P1–P6 in STTs were 0%, 50.0%, 9.1%, 33.3%, 73.4% and 61.0%, respectively. For "non-P1" STTs, the predictive model combining quantitative CEUS parameters with conventional US features, including margin (odds ratio [OR] = 4.490, p = 0.000), vascular density (OR = 2.307, p = 0.013), 50% wash-out intensity (OR = 1.904, p = 0.032) and 50% wash-out time (OR = 1.031, p = 0.019), performed favorably in predicting malignancy, with an accuracy of 81.0% and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.868. Furthermore, a US workflow for the detection of STTs based on conventional US and CEUS was established. CEUS with qualitative and quantitative analyses could be an effective tool for STT diagnosis. The US workflow in this study may improve the management of STT patients.     

Echo-Tracking Technology Assessment of Carotid Artery Stiffness in Patients with Coronary Slow Flow

Coronary slow flow (CSF) in coronary angiography (CAG) is a well-recognized clinical entity. Previous studies have suggested that microvascular abnormalities and endothelial dysfunction are responsible for CSF. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the CSF phenomenon is a form of atherosclerosis including both small vessels and epicardial coronary arteries. The echo-tracking (ET) technique is a non-invasive detection method for early prediction of arterial atherosclerosis. Therefore, we investigated carotid elasticity with the ET technique in patients with CSF. Fifty patients with CSF and 50 patients with normal coronary artery blood flow, as determined by CAG, with a similar distribution of risk factors were recruited. The stiffness parameter (β), pressure–strain elastic modulus (E_p), arterial compliance (AC), augmentation index (AIx) and local pulse-wave velocity (PWV) were determined at the level of the bilateral common carotid artery (CCA) with using the ET technique. Levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-HSCRP) were determined for the two groups. β, E_p and PWV were significantly higher in the CSF group than in the control group (β: 11.4 ± 3.76 vs. 9.22 ± 3.28, p < 0.01; E_p: 153.44 ± 47.85 vs. 126.40 ± 43.32, p < 0.01; PWV: 7.26 ± 1.10 vs. 6.55 ± 1.02, p < 0.01), but AC was lower in the CSF group than in the control group (0.62 ± 0.20 vs. 0.74 ± 0.24, p < 0.01). The elasticity parameters of the bilateral common carotid artery did not significantly differ. The level of hs-HSCRP was correlated positively with β (r = 0.306, p = 0.015), E_p (r = 0.358, p = 0.005) and PWV (r = 0.306, p = 0.015), but negatively with AC (r = −0.236, p = 0.049). In conclusion, the ET technique is a simple practical method for evaluating carotid artery elasticity, and there is a significant correlation between carotid artery stiffness and level of hs-HSCRP in patients with CSF.     

Use of Wave Intensity Analysis of Carotid Arteries in Identifying and Monitoring Left Ventricular Systolic Function Dynamics in Rabbits

Wave intensity analysis (WIA) of the carotid artery was conducted to determine the changes that occur in left ventricular systolic function after administration of doxorubicin in rabbits. Each randomly selected rabbit was subject to routine ultrasound, WIA of the carotid artery, cardiac catheterization and pathologic examination every week and was followed for 16 wk. The first positive peak (WI₁) of the carotid artery revealed that left ventricular systolic dysfunction occurred earlier than conventional indexes of heart function. WI₁ was highly, positively correlated with the maximum rate of rise in left ventricular pressure in cardiac catheterization (r = 0.94, p < 0.01) and moderately negatively correlated with the apoptosis index of myocardial cells, an indicator of myocardial damage (r = −0.69, p < 0.01). Ultrasound WIA of the carotid artery sensitively reflects early myocardial damage and cardiac function, and the result is highly consistent with cardiac catheterization findings and the apoptosis index of myocardial cells.     

Resectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Is the Enhancement Pattern at Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography a Pre-Operative Prognostic Factor?

The aim of our study was to determine whether the enhancement pattern of pancreatic adenocarcinoma at contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is related to patient prognosis after resection. CEUS of 42 resected adenocarcinomas were retrospectively reviewed. Tumors were divided into two groups: group A = poorly vascularized (presence of avascular areas) or group B = well vascularized (absence of avascular areas). All lesions were resected and underwent pathological examination assessing tumor differentiation as: undifferentiated (poorly differentiated) or differentiated (moderately and well differentiated). Mean vascular density (MVD) was also evaluated. CEUS enhancement and pathology were correlated (Spearman's test). Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was performed with the Cox regression model. There were 30 differentiated and 12 undifferentiated adenocarcinomas at pathology. At CEUS, 10 lesions were poorly vascularized, whereas 32 lesions were well vascularized. Positive correlation was observed between CEUS groups and tumoral differentiation (rs = 0.51; p = 0.001) and between CEUS and MVD (rs = 0.74; p < 0.0001). Median survival in patients with group A vascularization at CEUS was significantly lower than in group B (p = 0.015). Cox proportional hazard model revealed the presence of poorly vascularized tumor at CEUS (p = 0.0001) as a predictor of higher mortality. In conclusion, CEUS enables accurate depiction of the vascularization of adenocarcinoma, with positive correlation to histology grade and MVD. (E-mail: mirko.donofrio@univr.it)     

Ultrasound Speckle Tracking Strain Estimation of in Vivo Carotid Artery Plaque with in Vitro Sonomicrometry Validation

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.     

Relationships between sagittal postures of thoracic and cervical spine,presence of neck pain,neck pain severity and disability

This was a cross-sectional correlation study to explore the relationships between sagittal postures of thoracic and cervical spine, presence of neck pain, neck pain severity and disability. Moreover, the reliability of the photographic measurement of the sagittal posture of thoracic and cervical spine was investigated. Forty-five subjects without neck pain and forty-seven subjects with neck pain were recruited. Using a photographic method, the sagittal thoracic and cervical postures were measured by the upper thoracic and the craniovertebral (CV) angles respectively. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Chinese version Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) were used to assess neck pain severity and disability. The upper thoracic angle was positively correlated (r_s = 0.63, p < 0.01) while the CV angle was negatively correlated (r_s = ?0.56, p < 0.01) with the presence of neck pain. The upper thoracic angle was negatively correlated with the CV angles (r_s = ?0.62, p < 0.01) in subjects with neck pain. Similar to the CV angle, the upper thoracic angle was moderately correlated with the neck pain severity (r_s = 0.43, p = 0.01) and disability (r_s = 0.44, p = 0.02). The upper thoracic angle (OR = 1.37, p < 0.01) was a good predictor for presence of neck pain even better than that of the CV angle (OR = 0.86, p = 0.04).     

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound to Assess Carotid Intraplaque Neovascularization

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is increasingly being used to identify patients with carotid plaques that are vulnerable to rupture, so-called vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, by assessment of intraplaque neovascularization. A complete overview of the strengths and limitations of carotid CEUS is currently not available. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a complete overview of existing publications on the role of CEUS in assessment of carotid intraplaque neovascularization. The systematic review of the literature yielded 52 studies including a total of 4660 patients (mean age: 66 y, 71% male) who underwent CEUS for the assessment of intraplaque neovascularization. The majority of the patients (76%) were asymptomatic and had no history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke. The assessment of intraplaque neovascularization was mostly performed using a visual scoring system; several studies used time–intensity curves or dedicated quantification software to optimize analysis. In 17 studies CEUS was performed in patients before carotid surgery (endarterectomy), allowing a comparison of pre-operative CEUS findings with histologic analysis of the tissue sample that is removed from the carotid artery. In a total of 576 patients, the CEUS findings were compared with histopathological analysis of the plaque after surgery. In 16 of the 17 studies, contrast enhancement was found to correlate with the presence and degree of intraplaque neovascularization on histology. Plaques with a larger amount of contrast enhancement had significantly increased density of microvessels in the corresponding region on histology. In conclusion, CEUS is a readily available imaging modality for the assessment of patients with carotid atherosclerosis, providing information on atherosclerotic plaques, such as ulceration and intraplaque neovascularization, which may be clinically relevant. The ultimate clinical goal is the early identification of carotid atherosclerosis to start early preventive therapy and prevent clinical complications such as TIA and stroke.     

Prediction of Microvascular Invasion in Combined Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma Based on Pre-operative Clinical Data and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Characteristics

The goal of the study described here was to define the predictive value of pre-operative clinical information and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging characteristics in combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) patients with microvascular invasion (MVI). Seventy-six patients with pathologically confirmed CHC were enrolled in this study, comprising 18 patients with MVI-positive status and 58 with MVI-negative CHC nodules. The pre-operative clinical data and CEUS imaging features were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the potential predictors of MVI in CHC. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) after hepatectomy was compared between patients with different MVI status using the log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Univariate analysis indicated that the following parameters of patients with CHC significantly differed between the MVI-positive and MVI-negative groups (p<0.05): tumor size, α-fetoprotein ≥400 ng/mL, enhancement patterns in arterial phase and marked washout during the portal venous phase on CEUS. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, only the CEUS characteristics of heterogeneous enhancement (odds ratio = 6.807; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.099, 42.147; p = 0.039) and marked washout (odds ratio = 4.380; 95% CI: 1.050,18.270; p = 0.043) were identified as independent predictors of MVI in CHC. The combination of the two risk factors in predicting MVI achieved a better diagnostic performance than each parameter alone, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.736 (0.622, 0.830). After hepatectomy, CHC patients with MVI exhibited earlier recurrence compared with those without MVI (hazard ratio = 1.859; 95% CI: 0.8699–3.9722, p = 0.046). The CEUS imaging features of heterogeneous enhancement in the arterial phase and marked washout during the portal venous phase were the potential predictors of MVI in CHC. Aside from that, CHC patients with MVI had an earlier recurrence rate than those without MVI after surgery.     

CEUS颈动脉斑块灌注模式与短暂性脑缺血发作患者脑卒中发病的关系

目的 探讨短暂性脑缺血发作（TIA）患者颈动脉斑块CEUS的增强模式及与发生缺血性脑卒中及再发TIA的相关性。方法 对符合纳入标准的73例患者行颈动脉常规超声检查,选择颈总动脉分叉处及颈内动脉起始段斑块厚度>2.5 mm的61例患者进行CEUS检查,随访至少18个月,并将患者分为再发病组与未再发病组。患者18个月内发生缺血性脑卒中或再发TIA的危险因素采用Logistic回归分析。结果 两组高血压、糖尿病、高血脂、吸烟史、脑卒中家族史、服药依从性、二维超声及CEUS特征差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。多变量Logistic回归分析显示,影响再发病的因素按强度大小排列,分别为CEUS特征、高血压、药物依从性、高血糖及二维超声特征。结论 CEUS可对颈动脉斑块内新生血管的灌注模式进行评估,并对TIA患者发生缺血性脑卒中或再发TIA进行预测,对指导临床进行针对性预防有重要价值。     

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Phenotypes,Lung Ultrasound,Chest Computed Tomography and Clinical Features in Critically Ill Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Chest computed tomography (CT) may provide insights into the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), although it is not suitable for a timely bedside dynamic assessment of patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU); therefore, lung ultrasound (LUS) has been proposed as a complementary diagnostic tool. The aims of this study were to investigate different lungs phenotypes in patients with COVID-19 and to assess the differences in CT and LUS scores between ICU survivors and non-survivors. We also explored the association between CT and LUS, and oxygenation (arterial partial pressure of oxygen [PaO₂]/fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO_2]) and clinical parameters. The study included 39 patients with COVID-19. CT scans revealed types 1, 2 and 3 phenotypes in 62%, 28% and 10% of patients, respectively. Among survivors, pattern 1 was prevalent (p < 0.005). Chest CT and LUS scores differed between survivors and non-survivors both at ICU admission and 10 days after and were associated with ICU mortality. Chest CT score was positively correlated with LUS findings at ICU admission (r = 0.953, p < 0.0001) and was inversely correlated with PaO₂/FiO₂ (r = –0.375, p = 0.019) and C-reactive protein (r = 0.329, p = 0.041). LUS score was inversely correlated with PaO₂/FiO₂ (r = –0.345, p = 0.031). COVID-19 presents distinct phenotypes with differences between survivors and non-survivors. LUS is a valuable monitoring tool in an ICU setting because it may correlate with CT findings and mortality, although it cannot predict oxygenation changes.     

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging of Carotid Plaque Neo-vascularization: Accuracy of Visual Analysis

The aim of our study was to evaluate whether neo-vascularization of the carotid plaque can be accurately assessed by visual analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound images and whether these findings correlate with intensity-over-time curve analysis (ITC) and histopathology. Patients with ≥50% symptomatic or ≥60% asymptomatic stenosis according to European Carotid Surgery Trial criteria were included. Four investigators evaluated contrast enhancement visually (three grades), with positive agreement when three or more investigators were unanimous. ITC analysis of contrast enhancement was performed in the plaque and in the lumen. Histopathology (microvessel density with CD34 + staining) was completed when endarterectomy was performed. Visual grading (33 patients, inter-observer agreement = 94%) correlated significantly with ITC analysis (p = 0.03). Histopathology (n = 19) revealed a larger CD34 + area in patients with grade 1/2 versus grade 0 (p = 0.03). Visual analysis of neo-vascularization by means of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging is accurate and reproducible, with significant correlations with ITC and histopathology.