Abstract
Novel imaging techniques to detect the arteriosclerosis have been reviewed. Some of those imaging techniques were used for medical health examinations. In this article, we will review the ultrasound carotid artery method as well as recently highlighted CT and MR plaque imaging. Carotid ultrasound screening is a non-invasive imaging method used to measure the thickness of the wall of carotid arteries and the presence or absence of atherosclerotic plaque. To assess the screening performance of carotid artery intima-media thickness and carotid plaque in the identification of individuals who have been vising our health care section. We analyzed the relationship between IMT and risk factors of arteriosclerosis. We found a good correlation of age and sex to IMT using logistic regression analysis. In meta-analysis, neither carotid plaque nor IMT has a CHD screening performance that is sufficiently discriminatory between affected and unaffected individuals.
MR imaging has excellent soft tissue contrast and can allow for a more accurate and objective estimation of carotid wall morphology and plaque composition. Recent work has shown a correlation between clinical symptoms and features of vulnerable plaque, raising the possibility that MRI of the carotid arteries may have a potential clinical role in the management of symptomatic carotid artery disease.
Calcium is the plaque characteristic most readily identified by CT. Even if recent technical advances to reduce the effective radiation dose, the optimal investigative use of serial CT plaque imaging in the clinical arena remains to be clarified. FDG-PET demonstrates impressive repeatability for quantification of plaque uptake in the carotid and aorta.
Many of the features associated with a high-risk plaque can now be probed by novel imaging techniques. Each technique has its own strengths and drawbacks. We need to clarify the various imaging modalities used for the evaluation and quantification of atherosclerosis in medical health examinations.
