Ultrasound imaging for arterial wall thickness measurement: an in vitro study with stereomicroscopic correlation

Accuracy of B-mode ultrasonography was assessed in determining the arterial intima + media thicknesses at the near and far wall positions. From 10 human cadavers, 20 common carotid and 20 common femoral arteries were removed at autopsy and the intima + media thicknesses were measured with ultrasonography at the near and far wall locations and with stereomicroscopy. The differences between the locations were not statistically significant. The difference (mean +/- SD) between the stereomicroscopic and ultrasound measurements in the carotid artery was 0.12 +/- 0.09 mm at the near wall and 0.13 +/- 0.16 mm at the far wall and, in the femoral artery, 0.08 +/- 0.12 mm and 0.13 +/- 0.14 at the respective locations. At all locations, the stereomicroscope measurement was statistically significantly (p < 0.05) greater than the ultrasound measurement.