超声造影评价颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的初步研究

目的探讨颈动脉斑块超声造影表现及其临床意义。方法23例患者中，常规颈动脉超声检查发现斑块49处，经外周静脉团注SonoVue2．4ml后，观察不同性质粥样硬化斑块的造影显像特点，并对其可能机制做初步探讨。结果49处斑块中有35处超声造影表现为增强，表现为斑块周边或（和）斑块内部的线状增强，14处未见增强。按斑块性质分为三组，其造影增强率分别为软斑块90％（18／20），硬斑块38％（5／13），混合斑块75％（12／16）。结论斑块周边及内部的造影增强与斑块内新生血管形成有关，同时亦可提示斑块局部炎症反应的存在及其程度，有助于全面评价粥样斑块的稳定性。

Primary study on the carotid atherosclerotic plaques with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

Objective To investigate the features and clinical value of carotid plaques with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS). Methods A total of 49 carotid atherosclerotic plaques of 23 patients were diagnosed with routine ultrasonography. Then all the patients were examined by CEUS after bolus injection of SonoVue via peripheral vein. Imaging performance of the plaques were observed and evaluated. Results Of the 49 atherosclerotic plaques,35 plaques presented enhancement on the periphery of plaques or/and the center of the plaques with short-line or spot pattern with CEUS and 14 plaques were not enhanced. All the 49 plaques were divided into 3 groups, and the rate of enhancement on CEUS was 90% in soft plaque group(18 of 20 plaques presented enhancement), 38% in hard plaque group(5 of 13 plaques presented enhancement) and 75% in mixed plaque group(12 of 16 presented). Conclusions The enhancement of the atherosclerotic plaques on CEUS are related with the neovascularization,this enhancement patterns also suggested an inflammatory process in these plaques. CEUS is helpful and effective in the evaluation of atherosclerotic plaques.