Intimal thickening vs soft plaque ?

[Jo Burkett]

Hi Stephen

Is there a quantifiable way to differentiate between intimal thickening and soft plaque at the bulb seen in 50 ish year old patients ?

thanks in advance

Jo

[Stephen Bird]

Good question.

For me intimal thickening has the nice white line intact of the intimate with a thicker dark area immediately below it, so the Intima / Media thickness is increased.

When that white line is lost and there is a hypo echoic bulge in the vessel wall without the crisp white line then I call it early plaque development.

It is a spectrum really where intimal thickening progresses to plaque.

Steve.

[Jo Burkett]

Thanks very much great tip !

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