“…To assess the plaque echogenicity we used the Gray-Weale classification as modified by Geroulakos 32,33 : type 1 (anechogenic with echogenic fibrous cap), type 2 (predominantly anechogenic but with echogenic areas representing Ͻ25% of the plaque), type 3 (predominantly hyperechogenic but with anechogenic areas representing Ͻ25% of the plaque), type 4 (echogenic and homogeneous plaque), and type 5 (unclassified plaques reflecting calcified plaques with areas of acoustic shadowing, which hide the deeper part of the arterial layers). We defined the plaque surface as regular and smooth, irregular if we observed variation between 0.3 and 0.9 mm on the contour of the plaque, and ulcerated if we observed an irregularity or break in the surface of the plaque with a depth of Ն1 mm.…”