3D Ultrasound System for Analysis of Carotid Plaque Progression and Regression

Morphological characterization of carotid plaques has been used for risk stratification and evaluation of response to therapy, evaluation of new risk factors, genetic research, and for quantifying effects of new anti-atherosclerotic therapies. We developed a 3D US system that allows detailed studies of carotid plaques in 3D. Our software includes 3D reconstruction, viewing, and manual and semi-automated segmentation of carotid plaques. We evaluated our plaque quantification software by examining plaque volume measurement accuracy, variability, and plaque surface morphology. Our results indicate that our approach is sensitive tool and can be used in studies of atherosclerotic plaque progression and regression.