Accuracy verification in ultrasonic elasticity measurement within intima-media complex visible range using phantom experimental system

Abstract

Abstract Studies to investigate the ultrasound elasticity measurement of the carotid artery, for early detection of arteriosclerosis, are ongoing. In the long-axis cross-sectional measurement in vivo, the position where the intima-media complex (IMC) is visible on the B-mode image was assumed to be the central axis of the short-axis view of the carotid artery. However, the IMC is also visible near the central axis of the short-axis view of the carotid artery. In the present study, accuracy in elasticity measurement within the IMC visible range was evaluated through a phantom experiment. The elasticities of the posterior wall measured at plural points within the IMC visible range differed by up to 6%. From the experimental results, we concluded that for the highest accuracy, it is important to measure along the central axis of the short-axis view of the carotid artery.