Carotid Duplex Ultrasound Can Effectively Detect Ulcerative Plaques: A Single Center Exploratory Study
Lianlian Zhang1,2, Haiyang Qian3, Lili Pan1
1Department of Ultrasound, the Yancheng Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Yancheng, Jiangsu, China.
Journal of Clinical Ultrasound : JCU
|September 11, 2025
Summary
Carotid duplex ultrasound (CDU) effectively assesses vulnerable carotid plaques, especially ulcerative types, aiding in stroke risk stratification. High agreement with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) confirms CDU
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Vulnerable plaque is a key factor in ischemic stroke.
- Accurate assessment of plaque vulnerability is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of carotid duplex ultrasound (CDU) in assessing carotid plaque vulnerability.
- To compare CDU with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) for plaque characterization.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 127 patients.
- Comparison of CDU findings with HRMRI as the gold standard.
- Utilized vulnerable scores to assess plaque nature and stenosis severity.
Main Results:
- CDU and HRMRI showed high consistency in assessing plaque nature and stenosis degree.
- Agreement between CDU and HRMRI improved with increased stenosis severity.
- Excellent agreement was observed in characterizing ulcerative plaques.
Conclusions:
- CDU is an effective, non-invasive tool for real-time assessment of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability.
- CDU, particularly for ulcerative plaques, supports individualized patient diagnosis and treatment.
- Findings provide a basis for stratified management of patients with carotid atherosclerosis.
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