[Supra-aortic vessels: anatomy and pathologic picture. Color-Doppler compared with clinico-surgical findings]

Color-Doppler US is an extremely reliable technique in the study of atherosclerotic lesions of the supra-aortic trunks. It provides more complete and accurate information than angiography at the carotid bifurcation. A comparative study of US with arteriographic and surgical findings of carotid plaque specimens in 65 patients confirmed the reliability of color-Doppler US. A computerized graphic processing program of US images is here described, which was elaborated in order to evaluate and qualify the soft, the fibrotic and the calcific components of the plaque. The preliminary information yielded by the program was compared with histologic findings and the results appear to be extremely significant. Thus, the program could become a very useful tool for the follow-up of plaques over time.