Magnus Cinthio
Senior lecturer
Tomographic ultrasound for three-dimensional visualization of temporal arteries
Author
Summary, in English
Objective
Conventional two-dimensional ultrasound has been assessed for the non-invasive diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA), but the results are operator dependent, resulting in low sensitivity. Tomographic three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound is a novel technique that enables the objective documentation of vessel geometry. Here, for the first time, its utility is assessed for visualizing temporal arteries.
Method
The temporal artery of 14 healthy subjects and three subjects with suspected GCA was examined using tomographic 3D ultrasound.
Results
This technique enabled 3D mapping of the architecture of the temporal artery. The inner and outer vessel diameters showed considerable interindividual variability. However, calculation of the vessel wall fraction revealed the combination of vessel wall thickening and lumen narrowing, which may be indicative of GCA.
Conclusions
This proof-of-concept study indicates that tomographic 3D ultrasound can be used for objective mapping of the temporal artery. The technique must be evaluated regarding its diagnostic sensitivity in GCA before it can be introduced in clinical practice.
Conventional two-dimensional ultrasound has been assessed for the non-invasive diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA), but the results are operator dependent, resulting in low sensitivity. Tomographic three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound is a novel technique that enables the objective documentation of vessel geometry. Here, for the first time, its utility is assessed for visualizing temporal arteries.
Method
The temporal artery of 14 healthy subjects and three subjects with suspected GCA was examined using tomographic 3D ultrasound.
Results
This technique enabled 3D mapping of the architecture of the temporal artery. The inner and outer vessel diameters showed considerable interindividual variability. However, calculation of the vessel wall fraction revealed the combination of vessel wall thickening and lumen narrowing, which may be indicative of GCA.
Conclusions
This proof-of-concept study indicates that tomographic 3D ultrasound can be used for objective mapping of the temporal artery. The technique must be evaluated regarding its diagnostic sensitivity in GCA before it can be introduced in clinical practice.
Department/s
- Ophthalmology Imaging Research Group
- LU Profile Area: Light and Materials
- LTH Profile Area: Photon Science and Technology
- Ophthalmology, Lund
- LTH Profile Area: Engineering Health
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Clinical and experimental lung transplantation
- NPWT technology
Publishing year
2024-03-04
Language
English
Publication/Series
Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Status
Epub
Research group
- Ophthalmology Imaging Research Group
- Clinical and experimental lung transplantation
- NPWT technology
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0300-9742