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Interframe Echo Intensity Variation of Subregions and Whole Plaque in Two-Dimensional Carotid Ultrasonography : Simulations and In Vivo Observations

Rohlén, Robin LU orcid ; Jiang, Biao ; Nyman, Emma ; Wester, Per ; Näslund, Ulf and Grönlund, Christer (2023) In Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine 42(5). p.1033-1046
Abstract

Objectives: The risk of cardiovascular disease is associated with the echo intensity of carotid plaques in ultrasound images and their cardiac cycle-induced intensity variations. In this study, we aimed to 1) explore the underlying origin of echo intensity variations by using simulations and 2) evaluate the association between the two-dimensional (2D) spatial distribution of these echo intensity variations and plaque vulnerability. Methods: First, we analyzed how out-of-plane motion and compression of simulated scattering spheres of different sizes affect the ultrasound echo intensity. Next, we propose a method to analyze the features of the 2D spatial distribution of interframe plaque echo intensity in carotid ultrasound image... (More)

Objectives: The risk of cardiovascular disease is associated with the echo intensity of carotid plaques in ultrasound images and their cardiac cycle-induced intensity variations. In this study, we aimed to 1) explore the underlying origin of echo intensity variations by using simulations and 2) evaluate the association between the two-dimensional (2D) spatial distribution of these echo intensity variations and plaque vulnerability. Methods: First, we analyzed how out-of-plane motion and compression of simulated scattering spheres of different sizes affect the ultrasound echo intensity. Next, we propose a method to analyze the features of the 2D spatial distribution of interframe plaque echo intensity in carotid ultrasound image sequences and explore their associations with plaque vulnerability in experimental data. Results: The simulations showed that the magnitude of echo intensity changes was similar for both the out-of-plane motion and compression, but for scattering objects smaller than 1 mm radius, the out-of-plane motion dominated. In experimental data, maps of the 2D spatial distribution of the echo intensity variations had a low correlation with standard B-mode echo intensity distribution, indicating complementary information on plaque tissue composition. In addition, we found the existence of ∼1 mm diameter subregions with pronounced echo intensity variations associated with plaque vulnerability. Conclusions: The results indicate that out-of-plane motion contributes to intra-plaque regions of high echo intensity variation. The 2D echo intensity variation maps may provide complementary information for assessing plaque composition and vulnerability. Further studies are needed to verify this method's role in identifying vulnerable plaques and predicting cardiovascular disease risk.

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author
; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
atherosclerosis, carotid artery, intensity variability, intra-plaque variability, plaque, ultrasound imaging
in
Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine
volume
42
issue
5
pages
14 pages
publisher
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
external identifiers
  • pmid:36264181
  • scopus:85140218004
ISSN
0278-4297
DOI
10.1002/jum.16114
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Funding Information: This project has received funding from the Swedish Västerbottens County Council Spjutspetsmedel No. VLL‐581211, cofunded by the Heart Foundation of Northern Sweden and the Swedish Research Council No. 2015–04461. This simulation research was conducted using the resources of High‐Performance Computing Center North (HPC2N). Funding Information: This project has received funding from the Swedish Västerbottens County Council Spjutspetsmedel No. VLL-581211, cofunded by the Heart Foundation of Northern Sweden and the Swedish Research Council No. 2015–04461. This simulation research was conducted using the resources of High-Performance Computing Center North (HPC2N). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
id
f778d513-ea54-4725-b9d8-375b87240b24
date added to LUP
2023-05-15 23:57:25
date last changed
2024-06-15 02:57:09
@article{f778d513-ea54-4725-b9d8-375b87240b24,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives: The risk of cardiovascular disease is associated with the echo intensity of carotid plaques in ultrasound images and their cardiac cycle-induced intensity variations. In this study, we aimed to 1) explore the underlying origin of echo intensity variations by using simulations and 2) evaluate the association between the two-dimensional (2D) spatial distribution of these echo intensity variations and plaque vulnerability. Methods: First, we analyzed how out-of-plane motion and compression of simulated scattering spheres of different sizes affect the ultrasound echo intensity. Next, we propose a method to analyze the features of the 2D spatial distribution of interframe plaque echo intensity in carotid ultrasound image sequences and explore their associations with plaque vulnerability in experimental data. Results: The simulations showed that the magnitude of echo intensity changes was similar for both the out-of-plane motion and compression, but for scattering objects smaller than 1 mm radius, the out-of-plane motion dominated. In experimental data, maps of the 2D spatial distribution of the echo intensity variations had a low correlation with standard B-mode echo intensity distribution, indicating complementary information on plaque tissue composition. In addition, we found the existence of ∼1 mm diameter subregions with pronounced echo intensity variations associated with plaque vulnerability. Conclusions: The results indicate that out-of-plane motion contributes to intra-plaque regions of high echo intensity variation. The 2D echo intensity variation maps may provide complementary information for assessing plaque composition and vulnerability. Further studies are needed to verify this method's role in identifying vulnerable plaques and predicting cardiovascular disease risk.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rohlén, Robin and Jiang, Biao and Nyman, Emma and Wester, Per and Näslund, Ulf and Grönlund, Christer}},
  issn         = {{0278-4297}},
  keywords     = {{atherosclerosis; carotid artery; intensity variability; intra-plaque variability; plaque; ultrasound imaging}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1033--1046}},
  publisher    = {{American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine}},
  series       = {{Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine}},
  title        = {{Interframe Echo Intensity Variation of Subregions and Whole Plaque in Two-Dimensional Carotid Ultrasonography : Simulations and In Vivo Observations}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jum.16114}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/jum.16114}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}