Electronic staining: elasticity imaging of atheroma with transcutaneous ultrasound

This paper describes a noninvasive method for evaluating regional elasticity in atheroma in which a novel method is applied to measure minute changes in thickness of each of the multiple layers of the arterial wall during one heartbeat. By comparing the pathological findings with the elasticity distribution, statistic parameters for lipid and a mixture of smooth muscle and collagen fiber can be determined. By applying the method to the common carotid arteries (CCAs), thin collagen fiber was clarified and soft inclusion of lipid in plaque was detected. This method offers potential for detection of plaque vulnerability in a clinical setting.