Kiernan, Maxwell J.; Al Mukaddim, Rashid; Lee, Yurim; Dou, Yimeng; Zhang, Zhiwei; Mitchell, Carol C.; Johnson, Kevin; Eisenmenger, Laura; Dempsey, Robert J.; Lee, Matthew H.; Varghese, Tomy. (2026).听.听Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine.听
Carotid artery plaques can increase the risk of stroke, and understanding their structure and mechanical properties may help assess their stability. We developed a reproducible technique that combines ultrasound with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate carotid artery walls and plaques. The method aligns ultrasound and MRI images using anatomical landmarks, allowing the same areas of the artery to be located across both imaging methods. This alignment also guides the collection of additional ultrasound measurements, including blood flow and tissue stiffness data, from the same anatomical location. The technique improved consistency between MRI and ultrasound imaging and provides a practical framework for standardized, quantitative assessment of carotid plaques and artery wall properties.
Figure 1
Example placement of points used for alignment in the axial plane for a representative subject. Points are placed at the wall regions of the ICA and ECA as well as the bifurcation region for both the MRI image (A) and ultrasound image (B).