J Korean Soc Echocardiogr.  2000 Dec;8(2):152-157.

Initial Experience of 3-Dimensional Ultrasound Reconstruction of Carotid Artery

• Lee JM
• Youn HJ
• Oh YS
• Chung WS
• Chae JS
• Kim JH
• Choi KB
• Hong SJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: The atherosclerotic plaque of carotid artery is associated with an increased risk of cerebral infarction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and the clinical usefulness of 3-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of carotid artery.
METHODS
We performed conventional 2-D using 15 MHz transducer and 3-D ultrasound examinations of carotid arteries in 19 subjects (M:F=10:9, mean age=51+/-16 yrs, range 30-70yrs, 13 subjects with coronary artery disease, 6 normal volunteer). Ultrasound images were acquired with a 7.5 MHz linear array transducer (HP Sonos 5500) and a freehand acquisition kit. The 3-D reconstruction was performed with a specialized software (Tomtec).
RESULTS
1) The recorded images were easily reconstructed within about 90 seconds. 2) The reconstruction of 3-D images were obtained in 18 of 19 subjects (95%). 3) Of eighteen 3-D images of carotid arteries, 9 plaques were clearly visualized. 4) The locations of plaque of 3-D image were closely related with conventional 2-D images but hidden plaques were also detected.
CONCLUSION
3-D reconstruction of carotid artery is very feasible and provides additional and exact informations about the plaque morphology and location.

Keyword

3-dimensional ultrasound; Carotid artery

MeSH Terms

Carotid Arteries*
Cerebral Infarction
Coronary Artery Disease
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Plaque, Atherosclerotic
Transducers
Ultrasonography*