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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
Published on: February 7, 2015
Estimation of longitudinal shear strain in the carotid arterial wall using ultrasound radiofrequency data
T Idzenga1, H Hansen, R Lopata
1Dept. of Pediatrics, Clinical Physics Laboratory, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre.
Purpose:
The primary trigger for myocardial infarction and stroke is destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. It is hypothesized that shear strain in the adventitia initiates and/or stimulates development of these plaques into rupture-prone, vulnerable plaques. Therefore, assessment of shear strain might yield a prognosis for the development of vulnerable plaques.
Materials And Methods:
In simulations and phantom experiments, longitudinal shear strain was estimated using RF and envelope-based methods and compared to the applied values. Additionally, longitudinal shear strain estimates in the adventitia of six healthy volunteers were determined.
Results:
In both experiments, the variance of the RF-based estimates was significantly smaller than that of the envelope-based estimates (Wilcoxon, p < 0.05). The periodicity of these estimates corresponded well with the cardiac cycle. The estimated values were found to be similar to previously published data. Furthermore, the signal-to-noise ratio of the shear strain estimate in the posterior wall based on RF-data was significantly higher (Wilcoxon, p 0 < 0.05) than that based on envelope-data.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, noninvasive ultrasound strain imaging using radiofrequency signals appeared to allow adequate estimation of longitudinal shear strain in the adventitial layer of the carotid artery wall.