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This study assessed inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of shear wave elastography (SWE) measurements in vessel phantoms simulating soft and hard carotid plaque under steady and pulsatile flow conditions. Supersonic SWE was used to acquire cine-loop data and quantify Young's modulus in cryogel vessel phantoms. Data were acquired by two observers, each performing three repeat measurements. Mean Young's modulus was quantified within 2-mm regions of interest averaged across five frames and, depending on vessel model and observer, ranged from 28 to 240 kPa. The mean inter-frame coefficient of variation (CV) was 0.13 (range: 0.07-0.18) for observer 1 and 0.14 (range: 0.12-0.16) for observer 2, with mean intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) of 0.84 and 0.83, respectively. The mean inter-operator CV was 0.13 (range: 0.08-0.20), with a mean ICC of 0.76 (range: 0.69-0.82). Our findings indicate that SWE can quantify Young's modulus of carotid plaque phantoms with good reproducibility, even in the presence of pulsatile flow.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2013.09.014

Type

Journal article

Journal

Ultrasound Med Biol

Publication Date

01/2014

Volume

40

Pages

200 - 209

Keywords

Carotid plaque, Reproducibility, Shear wave elastography, Young’s modulus, Algorithms, Carotid Arteries, Carotid Stenosis, Compressive Strength, Elastic Modulus, Elasticity Imaging Techniques, Humans, Image Enhancement, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, In Vitro Techniques, Observer Variation, Phantoms, Imaging, Reproducibility of Results, Sensitivity and Specificity, Single-Blind Method, Stress, Mechanical, Tensile Strength, Vascular Resistance