Date of Award

2008

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Program

Medical Biophysics

Supervisor

Grace Parraga, Ph.D

Abstract

Advanced atherosclerotic lesions contain lipid, macrophages, necrotic and fibrous tissue1. This disease is the primary cause of heart disease and stroke2. A validated three­ dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) phenotype, vessel wall volume (VWV), has been used to compare the effects of statin therapy versus placebo on subjects with advanced atherosclerosis. The VWV measurements demonstrated a significant difference in changes between groups. While this phenotype quantifies change, greater detail on plaques and wall thickness can be displayed with carotid maps, derived from VWV segmentations. Imagesoftensubjectswithmoderateatherosclerosiswereacquiredusing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 3DUS. MRI VWV was significantly larger than 3DUS VWV and carotid maps displayed non-corresponding regions of localized thickness between the two modalities, some of which were artefacts. In conclusion, VWV is able to record changes in the plaque and wall of the carotid artery, and provide measurements for the generation of carotid maps.

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