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Ultrasound Int Open 2016; 02(04): E106-E112
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-115564
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ultrasound Vascular Elastography as a Tool for Assessing Atherosclerotic Plaques – A Systematic Literature Review

B. Mahmood
1   Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
,
C. Ewertsen
1   Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
,
J. Carlsen
1   Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
,
M. B. Nielsen
1   Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 20 May 2016

accepted 05 August 2016

Publication Date:
13 October 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a widespread disease that accounts for nearly 3-quarters of deaths due to cardiovascular disease. Ultrasound elastography might be able to reliably identify characteristics associated with vulnerable plaques. There is a need for the evaluation of elastography and its ability to distinguish between vulnerable and stable plaques. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature on vascular elastography. A systematic search of the available literature for studies using elastography for assessing atherosclerotic plaques was conducted using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases. A standardized template was used to extract relevant data following the PRISMA 2009 checklist. 20 articles were included in this paper. The studies were heterogeneous. All studies reported that elastography was a feasible technique and provided additional information compared to B-mode ultrasound alone. Most studies reported higher strain values for vulnerable plaques. Ultrasound elastography has potential as a clinical tool in the assessment of atherosclerotic plaques. Elastography is able to distinguish between different plaque types, but there is considerable methodological variation between studies. There is a need for larger studies in a clinical setting to determine the full potential of elastography.

Key words

systematic literature review - atherosclerotic plaque - ultrasound - elastography - strain
 

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