Temporal Characterization of the Functional Density of the Vasa Vasorum by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography Maximum Intensity Projection Imaging

JACC-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING

卷:3

Article

Lee, Sang Chol^1,2  Carr, Chad L.¹  Davidson, Brian P.¹  Ellegala, Dilantha¹  Xie, Aris¹  Ammi, Azzdine¹  Belcik, Todd¹  Lindner, Jonathan R.¹ 

[1] Oregon Hlth & Sci Univ, Div Cardiovasc Med, Portland, OR 97239 USA

[2] Sungkyunkwan Univ, Sch Med, Seoul, South Korea

关键词: contrast ultrasound;    microbubbles;    plaque hemorrhage;    vasa vasorum;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jcmg.2010.08.017

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

OBJECTIVE S We sought to determine whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) microangiography with maximum intensity projection (MIP) processing could temporally evaluate proliferation of the vasa vasorum (W) in a model of mural hemorrhage. BACKGROUND Expansion of the VV and plaque neovascularization contributes to plaque growth and instability and may be triggered by a variety of stimuli, including vascular hemorrhage. However, quantitative in vivo methods for temporal assessment of W remodeling are lacking. METHODS In 24 rabbits fed a high-fat diet, either autologous whole blood or saline was percutaneously injected into the media-adventitia of the femoral artery using ultrahigh-frequency ultrasound guidance. Functional VV density at the injection site and contralateral control artery was assessed 1, 2, and 6 weeks after injection with CEU imaging with MIP processing. In vitro studies with renathane microtubes were also performed to validate linear density measurement with CEU and MIP processing. RESULT S In vitro studies demonstrated that MIP processing of CEU data reflected the relative linear density of vessels n a manner that was relatively independent of contrast concentration or microtube flow rate. On CEU with MIP, there was a 3-fold increase in femoral artery W microvascular density at 1 and 2 weeks after blooc injection (p < 0.01 vs. contralateral control), whereas W density increased minimally after saline injection. At 6 weeks, VV vascular density decreased in blood-treated vessels and was not different from saline-injected or contralateral control vessels. CONCLUSIONS CEU with MIP processing can provide quantitative data on temporal changes in the functional density of the W. This method may be useful for evaluating high-risk features of plaque neovascularization or response to therapies aimed at plaque neovessels. (J Am Coll Cardiol Img 2010; 3:1265-72) (C) 2010 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation

【 授权许可】

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