Intimal plus medial thickness of the arterial wall: a direct measurement with ultrasound imaging.

• DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.74.6.1399
• Publication Date: 2011-06-17T20:29:13Z
• Authors: P Pignoli; E Tremoli; A Poli; P Oreste; R Paoletti
• Keywords: Adventitia; Echogenicity; Arterial wall; Lumen (anatomy)

A study in vitro of specimens human aortic and common carotid arteries was carried out to determine the feasibility direct measurement (i.e., not from residual lumen) arterial wall thickness with B mode real-time imaging. Measurements vivo by same technique were also obtained 10 young normal male subjects. Aortic samples classified as class (relatively normal) or (with one more atherosclerotic plaques). In all 85% a characteristic image composed two parallel echogenic lines separated hypoechoic space found. The distance between (B intimal + medial thickness) measured correlated different combinations tunicae evaluated gross microscopic examination. On basis these findings results dissection experiments on intima adventitia we concluded that imaging did differ significantly pathologic With respect accuracy measurements compared findings, found an error less than 20% for 77% walls. addition, no significant difference mode-determined determined this method subjects, indicating represents useful approach vivo.