Abstract
A 27 MHz transducer, mounted on an ultrasonic microscope, was used to quantify the dependence of backscatter power on the angle of incidence of arterial vessels. Due to variations in the angle of incidence significant variations in backscatter power were found in the intima, the muscular and elastic media, the adventitia and the external elastic lamina. The muscular and the elastic media show anisotropic behaviour in their angle dependence, i.e. the extent of the angle dependence depends on the direction of angle variation. This anisotropic nature is probably caused by the dominant orientation of smooth muscle cells or elastin fibers in these tissue layers.
Measurements on 13 specimens of the iliac artery showed that each tissue type of the vessel has its own specific angle dependent behaviour. In the future this property might be used for quantitative tissue characterization.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Choy DS, Stertzer S, Rotterdam HZ, Sharrock N, Kaminow IP. Trans-luminal laser catheter angioplasty. Am J Cardiol 1982; 50: 1206–8.
Borst C. Percutaneous recanalization of arteries: status and prospects of laser angioplasty with modified fibre tips. Lasers Med Sci 1987; 2: 137–51.
Waller BF. ‘Crackers, breakers, stretchers, drillers, scrapers, shavers, burners, welders and melters’ — the future treatment of atherosclerotic coronary artery desease? A clinical-morphologic assessment. J Am Coll Cardiol 1989; 13: 969–87.
Pandian NG, Kreis A, Brockway B, Inser JM, Sacharoff A, Boleza E, Caro R, Muller D. Ultrasound angioplasty: real-time, two-dimensional, intraluminal ultrasound imaging of blood vessels. Am J Cardiol 1988; 62: 493–5.
Bom N, Roelandt J. Intravascular ultrasound, techniques, developments, clinical perspectives. Kluwer Academic Publishers 1989. The Netherlands.
Gussenhoven WJ, Essed CE, Frietman P, Mastik F, Lancée C, Slager C, Serruys P. Intravascular echographic assessment of vessel wall characteristics: a correlation with histology. Int J Card Imaging 1989: 4: 105–16.
Gussenhoven WJ, Essed CE, Frietman P, Egmond F van, Lancée CT, Kappellen WH van, Roelandt J, Serruys PW, Gerritsen GP, Urk H van, Bom N. Intravascular ultrasonic imaging. Histologic and echographic correlation. Eur J Vasc Surg 1989; 3: 571–6.
Gussenhoven WJ, Essed CE, Lancée CT, Mastik F, Frietman P, Egmond FC van, Reiber H, Bosch H, Urk H van, Roelandt J, Bom N. Arterial wall characteristics determined by intravascular ultrasound imaging: anin vitro study. J Am Coll Cardiol 1989; 14(4): 947–52.
Potkin BN, Bartorelli AL, Gessert JM, Neville RF, Almagor Y, Roberts WC, Leon MB. Coronary artery imaging with intravascular high-frequency ultrasound. Circulation 1990; 81: 1575–85.
de Kroon MGM, van der Wal LF, Gussenhoven WJ, Bom N. Angle dependent backscatter from the arterial wall. Ultrasound Med Biol 1991; 17: 121–6.
Picano E, Landini L, Distante A, Sarnelli R, Bernassi A, L'Abbate A. Different degrees of atherosclerosis detected by backscattered ultrasound: Anin vitro study on fixed human aortic walls. J Clin Ultrasound VII 1983; 375-9.
Picano E, Landini L, Lattanzi A, Salvadori M, Benassi A, L'Abbate A. Time domain echo pattern evaluations from normal and atherosclerotic arterial walls: a studyin vitro. Circulation 1988; 77(3): 654–9.
Landini L, Sarnelli R, Picano R, Salvadori M. Evaluation of frequency dependence of backscatter coefficient in normal and atherosclerotic aortic walls. Ultrasound Med Biol 1986; 12(5): 397–401.
Picano E, Landini L, Distante A, Salvadori M, Lattanzi F, Masini M, L'Abbate A. Angle dependence of ultrasonic backscatter in arterial tissues: a studyin vitro. Circulation 1985: 72(3): 572–6.
Rhodin JAG. Architecture of the vessel wall. In: Bohr DF, ed. Handbook of Physiology, sec. 2 (The Cardiovascular System). American Physiological Society 1980; 1–31.
Dingemans KP, Jansen N, Becker AE. Ultrastructure of the normal human aortic media. Virchows Archiv A 1981; 392: 199–216.
Haust MD. Atherosclerosis — Lesions and sequelae. In: Silver MD ed, Cardiovascular pathology, Vol II. New York: Churchill Livingstone 1983; 191–315.
Stelwagen U, Ramaekers PPJ, Veen PP van 't, Wal LF van der. Non-destructive evaluation of ceramics by scanning acoustic microscopy. Non-destructive Testing Proc. 12th World Conference. ed. J. Boogaard, GM van Dijk (Elsevier Scientific Publ., 1989).
Lizzi FL, Greenebaum M, Feleppa EJ, Elbaum M, Coleman DJ. Theoretical framework for spectrum analysis in ultrasonic tissue characterization. J Acoust Soc Am 1983; 73: 1366–73.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Kroon, M.G.M., van der Wal, L.F., Gussenhoven, W.J. et al. Backscatter directivity and integrated backscatter power of arterial tissue. Int J Cardiac Imag 6, 265–275 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01797858
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01797858