The ability of Micropure® ultrasound technique to identify microcalcifications in carotid plaques

Abstract

Objectives: To study the ability of Micropure® ultrasound technique to identify microcalcifications in carotid plaques.

Methods: Forty-four carotids in 22 patients were enrolled in this study and were detected by routine ultrasound examination and Micropure® examination at the same time to identify microcalcifications in plaques. The results were compared with the tissue-background ratio (TBR) in ¹⁸F-NaF PET-CT imaging, which was performed one or two days after the ultrasound examination.

Results: In the 44 carotids, plaques were detected in 37 carotids. Microcalcifications were detected by the Micropure® technique in 32 carotids, which were located surrounded by macrocalcifications in 23 carotids, in the fibre cap in 12 carotids, and in the base of the plaque in 6 carotids. Microcalcifications were not detected in 12 carotids. In ¹⁸F-NaF PET-CT examination, TBR > 1.61 (range 1.62-3.99, mean 2.25 ± 0.58) was detected in 37 carotids, and TBR < 1.61 was detected in 7 carotids. There were no significant differences between the two methods in detecting microcalcifications (p = 0.180). The sensitivity of the Micropure® technique in detecting microcalcifications was 81.08 %, and the specificity was 71.43 %.

Conclusions: Microcalcifications in the carotid artery detected by the Micropure® technique were well in accordance with ¹⁸F-NaF PET-CT scanning, with better sensitivity and specificity.

Keywords: Carotid; Microcalcifications; PET; Plaque; Ultrasound.