To study the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the evaluation of the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP).

162 patients with CAP were selected as study group.Meanwhile, 34 patients with carotid artery strong echo plaques were selected as control group.The color doppler ultrasound was used to observe the CAP.

The proportions of lipid type, fiber type, calcification and ulcer plaque in the study group were 21.60%, 33.33%, 34.57% and 10.37%, which were higher than those of the control group (5.88%, 2.94%, 2.94% and 2.94%), the differences were statistically significant (χ²=4.537, 12.859, 13.629 and 3.855, all P<0.05). There were 75 patients of soft plaques, 36 patients with mixed plaques, 51 patients with hard plaque in 162 patients.The new blood vessels classification in soft plaque group (36.00%, 45.33% and 10.33%) were higher than the mixed plaque (30.56%, 41.67% and 8.33%) and hard plaque group (31.37%, 13.72% and 7.84%). The peak intensity (-86.41±7.81) %, tmax (8.34±1.62)s, mean transit time (24.18±8.67)s in the soft plaque group were significantly lower than the mixed plaque [(-100.73±6.52)%, (9.79±2.14)s and (28.93±9.11)s] and hard plaque patients [(-104.14±6.15)%, (10.23±2.33)s and (30.07±9.48)s], the differences were statistically significant (t=9.518, 6.966, 2.658, 13.592, 5.374 and 3.064, all P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences between mixed plaque and hard plaque (all P>0.05). The plaque diameter (4.13±0.75)mm diagnosed by CEUS was significantly larger than that of conventional ultrasound [(3.62±1.14)mm], the difference was statistically significant (t=4.757, P=0.000).

The CEUS can qualitatively detect the atherosclerotic plaque angiogenesis, can quantitatively assess plaque, evaluate the stability of the plaques, and the sensitivity is high.

Ultrasonography, doppler, color; Angiography; Atherosclerosis; Stability