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European Journal of Echocardiography Advance Access originally published online on June 13, 2009
European Journal of Echocardiography 2009 10(7):887-888; doi:10.1093/ejechocard/jep089
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Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2009. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

A surprise behind the dark

Marco Magnoni*, Stefano Coli and Domenico Cianflone

Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Diseases, University Vita-Salute, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy

Received 7 April 2009; accepted after revision 23 May 2009; online publish-ahead-of-print 13 June 2009.

* Corresponding author. Tel: +39 02 26437396; fax: +39 02 26437398. E-mail address: magnoni.marco{at}hsr.it


  Abstract

Standard ultrasound has a poor accuracy in the detection of carotid plaque surface irregularities and ulcers, which are features of vulnerable lesions. Sonographic contrast agents can improve vessel wall lumen definition, thus potentially overcoming this limitation. Recent studies also suggest that contrast ultrasound can be used to study intraplaque neovascularizaion, a potential marker of high-risk lesions. This case represents a striking example of the added value of contrast ultrasound to improve diagnostic accuracy of vascular studies, particularly in the detection of plaque surface irregularities and plaque neovascularization.

Keywords: Contrast ultrasound; Vasa vasorum; Atherosclerosis; Carotid artery; Imaging


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