Characterisation of carotid artery disease: comparison of duplex scanning with histology.

The ability of duplex scanning to characterise the component tissue of atheromatous lesions of the internal carotid artery and to detect ulceration has been examined in a histological study of 42 carotid endarterectomy specimens. The results suggest that the only component of atheromatous lesions of the internal carotid artery which can be characterised from the B-scan is calcification. The presence of ulceration, intraluminal and intramural thrombus, fibrous intimal thickening and necrosis are not related to the echogenic appearance of internal carotid stenoses and may not be detected reliably. B-mode imaging alone cannot reliably grade greater than 50% internal carotid stenoses, but when this is combined with pulsed Doppler in the technique of duplex scanning, accurate results may be obtained.