scholarly journals Assessment of Carotid Plaque Stability Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Its Correlation With the Expression of CD147 and MMP-9 in the Plaque

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanshan Huang ◽  
Xinyin Wu ◽  
Linlin Zhang ◽  
Jianming Wu ◽  
Yi He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Morphology ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Vulnerable Plaque ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Plaque Vulnerability ◽  
Vulnerable Plaques ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
2D Ultrasound ◽  
Grade Ii

This study aims to investigate the correlation between the enhancement degree of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and the expression of CD147 and MMP-9 in carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with carotid endarterectomy and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of CEUS using pathological results as the gold standard. Thirty-eight patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for carotid stenosis in the Department of Neurovascular Surgery of the Second People’s Hospital of Shenzhen from July 2019 to June 2020 were selected. Preoperatively, two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound scan was performed on all patients to assess the characteristics of the plaque and degree of stenosis, and CEUS was used to evaluate the surface morphology of the plaque and the distribution of neovascularization. Postoperatively, pathological sections and immunohistochemical analysis of CD147 and MMP-9 levels in the plaque were performed on the stripped plaque tissue, and the results were analyzed against the CEUS grading and pathological results. Among the 38 patients, pathological results showed that 10 and 28 were in the stable and vulnerable plaque groups, respectively. There were more smokers in the vulnerable plaque group than in the stable plaque group, with higher intraplaques CD147 and MMP-9. The difference in ultrasound plaque surface morphology grading and CEUS grading between the two groups was statistically significant. There was no significant difference in age, sex, incidence of complications such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease between the two groups. CD147 was higher in the CEUS grade IV group than in the grades I (P = 0.040) and II (P = 0.010) groups. MMP-9 was higher in the CEUS grade IV group than in the grade II group (P = 0.017); MMP-9 was higher in the grade III group than in the grade II group (P = 0.015). Intraplaque contrast enhancement intensity was positively correlated with CD147 (r = 0.462, P = 0.003) and MMP-9 (r = 0.382, P = 0.018) levels. There was moderate consistency between the assessment of plaque vulnerability by 2D-ultrasound and by histopathological hematoxylin-eosin (HE) (kappa = 0.457, P > 0.05). 2D diagnosis of vulnerable plaque had a sensitivity of 85.7%, a specificity of 60.0%, a positive predictive value of 85.7%, a negative predictive value of 60.0%, and an accuracy of 78.0%. There was a strong consistency between the assessment of plaque vulnerability by CEUS and histopathological HE (kappa = 0.671, P < 0.01). CEUS had a sensitivity of 89.2%, a specificity of 80.0%, a positive predictive value of 92.6%, a negative predictive value of 72.7%, and an accuracy of 86.8% for the diagnosis of vulnerable plaques; CEUS is a reliable, non-invasive test that can show the distribution of neovascularization within vulnerable plaques, evaluate the vulnerability and risk of intraplaque hemorrhage, with a high consistency with pathological findings. The degree of intraplaque enhancement and the levels of CD147 and MMP-9 in the tissue were positively correlated.

scholarly journals The Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound versus Doppler Ultrasound in Grading Renal Artery Stenosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Yanhua Cui ◽  
Quanbin Zhang ◽  
Jiping Yan ◽  
Ji Wu
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Renal Artery ◽  
Renal Artery Stenosis ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Doppler Ultrasound ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Artery Stenosis ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Objective. This study is aimed at exploring the accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in grading renal artery stenosis. Methods. 122 renal arteries with suspected renal artery stenosis were selected. DSA, DUS, and CEUS were performed for all patients with suspected renal artery stenosis in the research. DSA was selected as the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of CEUS or Doppler ultrasound (DUS) in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis were analyzed. The consistency between CEUS and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was compared. The accuracy of DUS or CEUS in grading renal artery stenosis was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and compared between groups. Results. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CEUS in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis were 88.9%, 87.8%, 88.5%, 93.5%, and 80.0%, respectively. There was no significant difference in grading renal artery stenosis between CEUS and DSA (X2=0.643, P=0.424). 77 of the 122 renal arteries were diagnosed with the stenosis rate more than 30% by CEUS. Compared with the results of DSA, the kappa value of CEUS was 0.749 (P<0.05). Conclusion. CEUS is accurate in grading renal artery stenosis, and it may represent the method of choice in diagnosing renal artery stenosis.

scholarly journals Qualitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of small, TR3–5 benign and malignant thyroid nodules measuring ≤1 cm

2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (1111) ◽  
pp. 20190923
Author(s):  
Xin Li ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
Fan Li ◽  
Xiao-xia Han ◽  
Si-hui Shao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Diagnostic Performance ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Objective: To evaluate the performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of small, solid, TR3–5 benign and malignant thyroid nodules (≤1 cm). Methods: From January 2016 to March 2018, 185 thyroid nodules from 154 patients who underwent contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and fine-needle aspiration or thyroidectomy in Shanghai General Hospital were included. The χ2 test was used to compare the CEUS characteristics of benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and the CEUS features of malignant nodules assigned scores. The total score of the CEUS features and the scores of the above nodules were evaluated according to the latest 2017 version of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS). The diagnostic performance of the two were compared based on the receiver operating characteristic curves generated for benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Results: The degree, enhancement patterns, boundary, shape, and homogeneity of enhancement in thyroid small solid nodules were significantly different (p＜0.05). No significant differences were seen between benign and malignant thyroid nodules regarding completeness of enhancement and size of enhanced lesions (p＞0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the TI-RADS classification TR5 in diagnosis of malignant nodules were 90.10%, 55.95%, 74.59%, 72.22%, and 82.46%, respectively (area under the curve [AUC]=0.738; 95% confidence interval[CI], 0.663–0.813). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the total score of CEUS qualitative analysis indicators were 86.13%, 89.29%, 87.57%, 90.63%, and 84.27% respectively (AUC = 0.916; 95% CI, 0.871–0.961). Conclusion: CEUS qualitative analysis is superior to TI-RADS in evaluating the diagnostic performance of small, solid thyroid nodules. Qualitative analysis of CEUS has a significantly higher specificity for diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules than TI-RADS. Advances in knowledge: The 2017 version of TI-RADS has recently suggested the malignant stratification of thyroid nodules by ultrasound. In this paper we applied this system and CEUS to evaluate 185 nodules and compare the results with pathological findings to access the diagnostic performance.

Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Renal Cystic Mass

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingqing Xia ◽  
Xinchun Yuan ◽  
Meifeng Huang ◽  
Xiling Zhou ◽  
Zhiyu Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Cyst Wall ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Renal Cysts ◽  
Cystic Mass ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Cystic Masses

Background: Cystic Renal Cell Carcinoma (CRCC) is often challenging to differentiate from complex cysts with sonographic manifestations of renal carcinoma. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) is a new technology, and its clinical utility in the diagnosis of renal cystic mass has not been established. Objective: To analyze the characteristics of CEUS of renal cystic masses and to explore the clinical significance and value of CEUS in the diagnosis of CRCC. Methods: This study was a retrospective study. A total of 32 cystic masses from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected. The images of conventional ultrasound (US) and CEUS were confirmed via surgical pathology. The routine US was used to observe the location, shape, size, boundary, cyst wall, internal echo, and blood supply of each cystic mass. CEUS observed contrast enhancement of the cyst wall, cystic septa, and solid nodules of cystic masses. Results: There were 26 cases of CRCC, 5 cases of renal cysts, and 1 case of renal tuberculosis. The enhancement pattern, degree of enhancement, and pseudocapsular sign by CEUS in benign and malignant masses had statistically significant differences (P<.05). In the diagnosis of CRCC, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 92.3%, 83.3%, 90.6%, 96.0%, and 71.4% for CEUS; 57.6%, 66.7%, 59.3%, 88.2%, and 26.7% for conventional US, respectively. CEUS had a higher sensitivity and accuracy than the conventional US (P<.05). However, the diagnostic specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the two methods were not significantly different (P>.05). Conclusion: CEUS is more accurate in the diagnosis of renal cystic masses, and it can be used as an effective imaging method.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound: a Simple and Effective Tool in Defining a Rapid Diagnostic Work-up for Small Nodules Detected in Cirrhotic Patients during Surveillance

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Giorgio ◽  
Luca Montesarchio ◽  
Piero Gatti ◽  
Ferdinando Amendola ◽  
Paolo Matteucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Imaging Modality ◽  
Dynamic Imaging ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Histologic Diagnosis ◽  
Therapeutic Work ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Arterial Vascularization ◽  
Cirrhotic Patients ◽  
Work Up

  Background & Aims: Disappearance of portal blood flow and arterial vascularization is the hallmark of hepatocarcinogenesis. The capability of a dynamic imaging modality detecting arterial hypervascularization of small nodules is crucial to promote a rapid diagnostic and therapeutic work-up improving survival. We aimed to evaluate the capability of CEUS to detect arterial vascularization of ≤ 2 cm HCC nodules arising during surveillance so as to shorten the diagnostic and therapeutic work-up. Methods: From October 2009 to September 2014, among 1757 consecutive cirrhotic patients under surveillance with ultrasound (US), 243 patients had new single nodules 7-20 mm; 229/243 had a conclusive histologic diagnosis and comprised the study group. All patients underwent CEUS followed by enhanced MRI and US guided percutaneous 18G needle core biopsy of the nodules. Of the 229 nodules, 27 were hyperechoic, 171 hypoechoic and 31 isoechoic lesions. Results: The histology results revealed that 199/229 nodules were HCC and 30 were benign. Of 199 HCC, CEUS evidenced arterial hypervascularity in 190 nodules (95.5%) (sensitivity 94.48 %, specificity 100%, PPV 100%, NPV 76.92 %). Of the 39 CEUS arterial-unenhanced nodules, 30 were benign and 9 (23%) were well-differentiated HCC. eMRI showed arterial hypervascularity in 199 nodules (86,9%). Of these, only 193 (97%) were histologically HCCs while 6 were benign (sensitivity: 97%, specificity: 80%, PPV: 97%, NPV: 80%). Conclusions: CEUS has a great capability to detect arterial hypervascularity of small HCC. Because only 4.5% of new nodules escape the demonstration of arterial hyervascularity, CEUS must be performed immediately after conventional US to contrast the malignant fate of small lesions arising in a cirrhotic liver.. Abbreviations: CEUS: contrast-enhanced ultrasound; CT: computed tomography; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma;MRI: magnetic resonance; NPV: negative predictive value; PPV: positive predictive value; US: ultrasonography.

scholarly journals Transcranial Doppler for patent foramen ovale screening: is there a good correlation with transesophageal echocardiography?

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 785-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Christiano Lange ◽  
Viviane Flumignan Zétola ◽  
Admar Moraes de Souza ◽  
Élcio Juliato Piovesan ◽  
Juliano André Muzzio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Transcranial Doppler ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Screening Test ◽  
Patent Foramen Ovale ◽  
Foramen Ovale ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Right-to-left shunt (RLS) can be identified by contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler (cTCD) in patent foramen ovale (PFO) patients. AIM: To evaluate cTCD for PFO screening comparing it to cTEE. METHOD: 45 previous cTCD performed for PFO diagnosis and correlated its findings with cTEE. Patients were submitted to a cTCD standardized technique and were divided in two groups according to RLS: Group 1, patients with a positive RLS and Group 2 when RLS was negative. RESULTS: 29 (65%) patients were included in group 1 and 16 (35%) in group 2. PFO confirmation by cTEE was performed in 28 (62%) patients. cTCD had a 92.85% sensitivity, 82.35% specificity, 89.65% positive predictive value and 87.5% negative predictive value when compared to cTEE for PFO diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Standardized technique cTCD allows for RLS visualization in PFO patients with a good correlation with cTEE and can be used as a screening test before cTEE.

Carotid artery vulnerable plaque model for cerebrovascular events by conventional ultrasound & contrast-enhanced ultrasound: A preliminary study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Qin Wang ◽  
Yunqian Huang ◽  
Yuke Zhang ◽  
Yuqun Wang ◽  
Yanchun Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Vulnerable Plaque ◽  
Cerebrovascular Event ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Carotid Ultrasound ◽  
Test Set ◽  
Cerebrovascular Events ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Conventional Ultrasound

BACKGROUND: Conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound play an important role in the application of carotid plaque. AIMS: To establish carotid artery vulnerable plaques plaque model by conventional ultrasound combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound, identify high-risk plaques that may lead to cerebrovascular events, and provide clinical risk warning of high-risk plaques of stroke. METHODS: 205 cases of patients selected in 5053 patients with symptoms from 2018 to 2019 who were verified carotid plaques by conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound image characteristics, 147 cases as a training set, establishing the carotid artery plaque model, analyzing the characteristic of the plaques and the relationship between cerebrovascular event, with 58 cases as a test set, verify the model. Routine carotid ultrasound and contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound were performed in all enrolled patients. RESULTS: The gray-level characteristics of conventional ultrasound in the training concentration showed statistical differences in plaque morphology, fibrous cap morphology, uniformity and calcification degree in cerebrovascular events. The contrast enhanced ultrasound characteristics of plaques showed statistical differences in neovascularization and perfusion mode in cerebrovascular events. In the test set, there were statistical differences in the above conventional gray scale features and CEUS features. CONCLUSION: The vulnerable plaque model established by conventional ultrasound combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound has good diagnostic value for the characteristic plaque of carotid artery with cerebrovascular events.

scholarly journals Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound versus computed tomography for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective, single-center evaluation of 234 patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 030006052093015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Schwarze ◽  
Constantin Marschner ◽  
Wiebke Völckers ◽  
Sergio Grosu ◽  
Giovanna Negrão de Figueiredo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Liver Lesions ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Experienced Radiologist ◽  
Contrast Enhanced

Objective Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of primary liver cancer. A major part of diagnostic HCC work-up is based on imaging findings from sonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) allows for the dynamic assessment of the microperfusion pattern of suspicious liver lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of CEUS compared with CT scans for assessing HCC. Methods We performed a retrospective, single-center study between 2004 and 2018 on 234 patients with suspicious liver lesions who underwent CEUS and CT examinations. All patients underwent native B-mode, color Doppler and CEUS after providing informed consent. Every CEUS examination was performed and interpreted by a single experienced radiologist (European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology level 3). Results CEUS was performed on all included patients without occurrence of any adverse effects. CEUS showed a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 70%, a positive predictive value of 93% and a negative predictive value of 72% for analyzing HCC compared with CT as the diagnostic gold standard. Conclusions CEUS has an excellent safety profile and shows a high diagnostic accuracy in assessing HCC compared with corresponding results from CT scans.

Negative Predictive Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound of Liver and Kidney Thermal Ablation Sites for Local Tumour Progression during Long-term Follow-up: A Retrospective Consecutive Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 434-440
Author(s):  
Mostafa Atri ◽  
Abdulmohsen Alrashed ◽  
Ahmad Hassan ◽  
Korosh Khalili ◽  
Tae Kyoung Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Thermal Ablation ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Local Tumour ◽  
Local Tumour Progression

Purpose To determine negative predictive value (NPV) of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to demonstrate local tumour progression (LTP) at thermal ablation (TA) sites. Methods Our institutional review board approved this retrospective study; acquisition of consent was waived. Consecutive CEUS examinations performed between 2004-2014 for TA site evaluation on patients who could not undergo enhanced computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or had inconclusive CT or MRI, were retrospectively reviewed. Those reported as no abnormal enhancement in or surrounding TA site were included. CEUS examination was considered true-negative based on stability or lack of enhancement/washout on follow-up imaging for at least 1 year, and false-negative (FN), if there was an arterially enhancing focus with wash-out at or surrounding TA site on subsequent follow-up imaging. Results Study population included 56 tumours in 54 patients, 11 women, 43 men; mean age 71 years. Two patients had TA of two different hepatocellular carcinomas. Thirty-six examinations were for hepatic TA and twenty for renal TA. Lesion sizes ranged from 1 cm to 7 cm (mean 3.1 ± 1.2). Mean diameter of 7 recurrences was 13.8 mm. Overall FN rate was 12.5% (7/56). Corresponding numbers were 0% (0/20) for renal TA and 19.4% (7/36) for hepatic TA. Overall NPV of CEUS was 87.5% (49/56) (confidence interval [CI]: 78.8%–96.2%). NPV for renal TA was 100% (20/20) (CI: 100%–100%) and for hepatic TA 81.5% (29/36) (CI: 67.6 %–93.5%). Conclusion In this cohort, CEUS showed high NPV for exclusion of LTP at renal TA sites. NPV for hepatic TA sites was high but lower than renal TA.

scholarly journals Molecular Imaging of Carotid Plaque Vulnerability

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelika Alonso ◽  
Dimitrios Artemis ◽  
Michael G. Hennerici
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Imaging ◽  
Carotid Endarterectomy ◽  
Contrast Enhancement ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Plaque Vulnerability ◽  
Carotid Plaques ◽  
Contrast Enhanced

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been shown to be beneficial in patients with high-grade symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Patients with high-grade asymptomatic stenosis may only exceptionally benefit from CEA during periods of increased plaque vulnerability. Imaging modalities to characterize unstable, vulnerable plaques are strongly needed for better risk stratification in these patients. Summary: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a novel and noninvasive technique capable to identify several surrogate markers of vulnerable carotid plaques. The use of specific ultrasound microbubbles allows a reliable detection of microulcerations due to an optimized visualization of the plaque-lumen border. As microbubbles are strictly intravascular tracers, the detection of individual microbubbles within the plaque corresponds to intraplaque neovessels. The accuracy of CEUS in the visualization of newly formed microvessels has been confirmed in histological studies on carotid endarterectomy specimens. Together with the formation of adventitial vasa vasorum, intraplaque neovascularization is a strong predictor for symptomatic disease. The phenomenon of late phase contrast enhancement is based on the adherence of microbubble-containing monocytes on inflamed endothelium. Recent studies suggest that late phase contrast enhancement may reflect endothelial inflammation or activation within carotid plaques. The development of conjugated microbubbles that bind to specific ligands such as thrombotic material or neovessels has led to the term ‘molecular imaging'. CEUS with microbubbles targeted to P-selectin and VCAM-1, key molecules in leukocyte trafficking, was used to detect an inflammatory plaque phenotype, whereas microbubbles coupled to the VEGF-receptor may allow for a detection of neovascularization. Even though imaging with targeted microbubbles is yet in an experimental stage, this technique can visualize active plaque reorganization with increased vulnerability leading to generation of arterio-arterial embolism. Key Messages: The use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be recommended to assess atherosclerotic carotid lesions at risk for rupture. Prospective clinical studies are needed to validate the use of CEUS in patients with high risks of recurrent large artery strokes. In particular, this applies to the detection of intraplaque neovascularization, a well-established marker in preclinical and observational studies, while the clinical significance of late phase contrast enhancement still needs to be determined.

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