QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF ULTRASOUND CONTRAST FLOW BEHAVIOR IN CAROTID PLAQUE NEOVASCULATURE

Intraplaque neovascularization is considered as an important indication for plaque vulnerability. We
propose a semiautomatic algorithm for quantification of neovasculature, thus, enabling assessment of plaque
vulnerability. The algorithm detects and tracks contrast spots using multidimensional dynamic programming.
Classification of contrast tracks into blood vessels and artifacts was performed. The results were compared
with manual tracking, visual classification and maximal intensity projection. In 28 plaques, 97% of the contrast
spots were detected. In 89% of the objects, the automatic tracking determined the contrast motion with an average
distance of less than 0.5 mm from the manual marking. Furthermore, 75% were correctly classified into artifacts
and vessels. The automated neovascularization grading agreed within 1 grade with visual analysis in 91% of the
cases, which was comparable to the interobserver variability of visual grading. These results show that the method
can successfully quantify features that are linked to vulnerability of the carotid plaque. (E-mail: ahoogi@gmail.
com) 2012 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.