Evaluation of carotid plaque vulnerability using shear-wave elastography: An observational comparative study

Abstract

Objectives: This prospective observational, comparative study was aimed at assessing our results of shear-wave elastography (SWE) in evaluating carotid plaque vulnerability. Subjects and Methods: Sixty patients were prospectively studied over 2 years in a tertiary hospital setting and divided into two groups of 30 each. The first group consisted of patients with atherosclerotic plaques with a history of stroke, whereas the second group consisted of 30 patients with atherosclerotic plaques without stroke. Carotid plaques in both groups were studied for plaque length, morphology, and SWE measurements. All data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 22, IBM SPSS statistics). Results: Both groups showed no statistical difference with respect to comorbidities, addictions, or anthropometry. The internal carotid artery was involved in 24 (80%) and 13 (43.33%) patients in Groups A and B, respectively. Mean length and width of the plaque were more in Group A patients than that of Group B patients on both right and left sides. Proximal stiffness (kpa) was 32.27 and 42.86; mid stiffness was 32.92 and 45.77, while distal stiffness was 26.57 and 38.15 in Groups A and B, respectively. The proximal, mid, and distal stiffness values of the plaque in Group A were less on stroke side as compared to nonstroke side with a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: SWE is a noninvasive, reproducible, and reliable imaging technique which could be used as a tool for the early detection of vulnerable carotid artery plaques.

Keywords

• Carotid
• plaque
• shear-wave elastography