Rationale and objectives: This study was performed to (a) test the hypothesis that filling the arterial lumen with echoes at B-mode ultrasound (US) enables the assessment of wall and luminal abnormalities and (b) compare contrast material-enhanced B-mode US with color and power Doppler US angiography.
Materials and methods: Atherosclerotic lesions were created in 14 rabbit aortas and imaged with color Doppler and B-mode US before and after the intravenous administration of 0.3 mL of AF0150, a US contrast agent. In addition, four replicas of diseased human carotid arteries were immersed in a tissue-mimicking phantom and imaged with B-mode and color and power Doppler US before and after the administration of 1 mL of AF0150 per liter of porcine blood. Radiopaque plastic casts of the rabbit aortas and contact radiographs of the plastic replicas served as standards.
Results: Although color and power Doppler US allowed immediate localization of the lumen, precise estimation of stenoses and reliable visualization of surface irregularities were not possible. After AF0150 administration, angiogram-like images of the lumen were created with B-mode US, allowing rapid assessment of the entire vessel lumen and wall. Consequently, luminal stenoses were more accurately measured than with unenhanced B-mode US (r2 = 0.94, P < .0001 vs r2 = 0.21, P = .25) or Doppler (r2 = 0.42, P < .03). In addition, plaques and ulcerations were visible only with contrast-enhanced B-mode US.
Conclusion: Microbubbles fill the arterial lumen with echoes at B-mode US, creating an angiogram-like image. The ability to visualize the inner and outer surfaces of the vascular wall improved the evaluation of luminal and wall abnormalities.