Changes in Carotid Atherosclerosis Patterns Detected by Ultrasonography in Japanese Elderly Patients with Aortic Aneurysm

Abstract

To clarify current changes in the patterns of carotid atherosclerosis in Japan, carotid ultrasonographic findings in Japanese male patients with aortic aneurysm were compared between two groups examined in different periods. The first group was recruited from 42 consecutively examined patients in 1997, while the second group consisted of 40 consecutive patients from September, 2001 to January, 2002. Carotid lesions were analyzed by computer, and classified into three types based on the texture: echolucent, hyperechoic, and heterogeneous types. The mean age of the first group was 72 years, similar to that of the second group. In the first group, cigarette smoking was frequently noted, while the mean BMI was greater and IHD and CVD were frequent in the second group. Fifty carotid lesions were seen in each group. Severe stenosis and hypoechoic type lesions were more frequent in the second group than in the first group. These findings indicated that hypoechoic-type lesions, which are considered to be lipid deposition, hemorrhage, or loose fibrous tissue, and severe stenosis, were increased in the more recent group. This predicted that circulatory disturbance due to unstable atherosclerotic lesions may increase in the future among the elderly because carotid lesions reflect vascular change in other organs. J Atheroscler Thromb, 2003; 10: 13-18.

Trends in utilisation of ultrasound by older Australians (2010–2019)

“…Abdominal vascular ultrasound can be ordered to evaluate the possibility of abdominal aorta aneurysm, and particularly the presence of thrombus [ 19 ]. This condition is more common in elderly men than in women (ratio of 7:1) and is usually diagnosed by physical examination of the abdomen and ultrasound [ 19 , 30 ]. The specific investigation of abdominal aorta aneurysm, could potentially explain the difference in utilisation of abdominal vascular ultrasound between men and women in the older population.…”

Emergency Sonography for the Elderly

“…Elderly patients with risk factors for vascular disease are required to have an adequate screening through their primary care. Iwamoto et al 47 indicated that hypoechoic lesions of the aorta detected by ultrasonography, which are considered to be a rapid screener for vascular lipid deposition, hemorrhage, or loose fibrous tissue, and severe stenosis have higher possibilities of becoming an aorta aneurysm rather than hyperechoic lesions. The sonographer should search for focal dilatation of the abdominal aorta or lack of normal distal tapering.…”

Implications of Carotid Arteriomegaly in Patients with Aortic Aneurysm

“…Localized, thickened IMT of 2.1 mm or more in thickness (plaque) and stenotic lesions occupying more than 70% of the lumen diameter were assessed as carotid lesions (14).…”