Correlation between calcium, water contents and ultrasonographic appearance of atherosclerotic lesions of carotid artery lesions

Background: We tested the hypothesis whether there is a correlation between the echogenicity and calcium and water contents of carotid plaques. Patients and methods: Ninety carotid befurcations from 45 deceased patients were removed during autopsy. Thirty-four plaques were categorized as homogenous echolucent (HEL), homogenous echogenic (HEG) and heterogenous (HE) plaques based on premortem B-mode image. Water content was expressed in % of wet weight. Ca was determined by proton-induced X-ray emission and expressed in ppm. Relative optical density of the B-mode images was analyzed offline using a computer program. Results: HEL plaques had lower Ca content (medians and IQRs: 6,145 [4,465–6,536 ppm]) compared to HEG (74,100 [15,300–1,44,500−ppm]), P ≤ 0.001). HE plaques showed an intermediate calcium content (7,310 [4,840–9,920 ppm]) that was statistically not different from echolucent plaques. Water content of HEG plaques was statistically not different from HEL and HE (HEG:53.5 [35.5–64%], HEL: 73.5 [69.7–78.5%], HE: 70.6 [67.4–73.9%]). HEG plaques had the highest relative optical densities (196 [188–217%]). HEL and HE had similar relative optical densities (HEL: 176 [164–187%], HE: 164 [144–188%], respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between the Ca content and relative optical density of plaques. Conclusions: Echogenicity of carotid plaques increases along with their calcium content. Water content may be an important factor in differentiation of different plaques.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Correlation between calcium, water contents and ultrasonographic appearance of atherosclerotic lesions of carotid artery lesions ; volume:11 ; number:1 ; year:2020 ; pages:269-276 ; extent:8 ; Translational Neuroscience ; 11, Heft 1 (2020), 269-276 (gesamt 8)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Fülesdi, Béla ; Farkas, Szabolcs ; Gyöngyösi, Zoltán ; Siró, Péter ; Bereczki, Dániel ; Bacsó, József ; Csiba, László

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2020-0115
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022111513190541975333
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:30 AM CEST