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Fig. 1.
A “natural history” of atherosclerotic plaque; Virmani–Burke (MRI)
(12–14)
Fig. 2.
Atherosclerotic plaque with signs of neovascularisation: a diagram
Fig. 3.
Electron microscopic image of SonoVue microbubbles
Fig. 4.
Image of resonant frequency wave reception during the procedure (diy.audio.pl)
Fig. 5.
A diagram of mutual interaction between ultrasounds and microspheres
Fig. 6.
MI <0.4; microsphere oscillation
Fig. 7.
Intermediate MI of 0.4–0.8; microsphere resonance
Fig. 8.
MI >0.8; microsphere wall rupture
Fig. 9.
Type (class) I atherosclerotic plaque, not visible on B-mode imaging, diagnosed using superb microvascular imaging (SMI) (present authors’ material)
Fig. 10.
CEUS, arterial phase, vessel lumen filling: well visible vessel lumen–plaque boundary; red arrow – plaque neovessel; yellow arrow – mechanical index value (present authors’ own material)
Fig. 11.
Badanie CEUS – faza żylna, wypełnienie światła naczynia – zatarta granica światło naczynia–blaszka; strzałka niebieska – wartość MI, strzałka biała – obszar badanej blaszki (materiał własny)
Fig. 12.
CEUS: microcirculation phase. Obliterated vessel lumen– plaque boundary; black arrow – plaque area under examination, red arrow – MI value (present authors’ own material)
Fig. 13.
Late phase, replenish mode, black arrow – plaque–vessel wall boundary, blue arrow – plaque–vessel lumen boundary, red arrow – MI value (present authors’ own material)
Fig. 14.
CEUS using the classic method: visible contrast agent microsphere echoes in atherosclerotic plaque’s topography on the posterior wall of the vessel; black arrow – image of plaque with UEA echoes, red arrow – MI value (present authors’ own material)
Fig. 15.
CEUS using the modified classic method; red arrows – atherosclerotic plaque, blue arrow – time of contrast agent administration, yellow arrow – MI value (present authors’ own material)
Fig. 16.
CEUS using the transient method: visible echoes of the contrast agent in atherosclerotic plaque’s topography on the posterior wall of the vessel, GWN type (class) III circular plaque. A. Time: 33 sec from administration. B. Time: 111 sec from UEA administration; black arrow – plaque area with contrast agent echoes, blue arrow – image of the method, red arrow – MI (present authors’ own material)
Fig. 17.
CEUS using the TMIP method, replenish-flash mode: visible echoes of the contrast agent in atherosclerotic plaque’s topography on the posterior wall of the vessel, GWN type (class) I plaque. A. Before PD pulse. B. During the pulse. C. After PD pulse; white arrow – atherosclerotic plaque with contrast agent echoes; red arrow – MI value during the scan; blue arrow – indication of the method (present authors’ own material)
Fig. 18.
Evaluation of the change of plaque enhancement with the contrast agent on GSM analysis. Red arrow – ROI, yellow and blue arrows – GSM values (present authors’ own material)