Vulnerable Plaque Detection with Carotid Strain Imaging

This research aims to develop ultrasound techniques to characterize plaque and artery wall stiffness in carotid arteries. Strokes are the third leading cause of mortality and the leading cause of disability in the United States. Strokes result from blood flow disruptions due to plaque fragments getting lodged in extracranial vessels, areas that are easily accessible to ultrasound. Studies have suggested that a consistent increase in atherosclerosis with increasing artery stiffness is seen with age. We will test ultrasound “strain imaging” and “scatterer size imaging” to determine whether these modes help identify possible vulnerable plaque and stiffening of vessels due to atherosclerosis.