@article {45917,
	title = {Computational imaging of aortic vasa vasorum and neovascularization in rabbits using contrast-enhanced intravascular ultrasound: Association with histological analysis.},
	journal = {Anatol J Cardiol},
	volume = {20},
	year = {2018},
	month = {2018 Aug},
	pages = {117-124},
	abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Neoangiogenesis is pathophysiologically related to atherosclerotic plaque growth and vulnerability. We examined the in vivo performance of a computational method using contrast-enhanced intravascular ultrasound (CE-IVUS) to detect and quantify aortic wall neovascularization in rabbits. We also compared these findings with histological data.

METHODS: Nine rabbits were fed with a hyperlipidemic diet. IVUS image sequences were continuously recorded before and after the injection of a contrast agent. Mean enhancement of intensity of a region of interest (MEIR) was calculated using differential imaging algorithm. The percent difference of MEIR before and after the injection of microbubbles (d_MEIR) was used as an index of the density of plaque or/and adventitial neovascularization. Aortic segments were excised for histological analysis.

RESULTS: CE-IVUS and histological analysis were performed in 11 arterial segments. MEIR was significantly increased (~20\%) after microbubble injection (from 8.1{\textpm}0.9 to 9.7{\textpm}1.8, p=0.016). Segments with increased VV/neovessels in the tunica adventitia (histological scores 2 and 3) had significantly higher d_MEIR compared with segments with low presence of VV/neovessels (score 1); 40.5{\textpm}22.9 vs. 8{\textpm}14.6, p=0.024, respectively.

CONCLUSION: It is possible to detect VV or neovessels in vivo using computational analysis of CE-IVUS images, which is in agreement with histological data. These findings may have critical implications on vulnerable plaque assessment and risk stratification.},
	keywords = {Animals, Contrast Media, Disease Models, Animal, Male, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Plaque, Atherosclerotic, Rabbits, Ultrasonography, Vasa vasorum},
	issn = {2149-2271},
	doi = {10.14744/AnatolJCardiol.2018.35761},
	author = {Vavuranakis, Manolis and Papaioannou, Theodore G and Vrachatis, Dimitrios and Katsimboulas, Michael and Elias A. Sanidas and Vaina, Sophia and Agrogiannis, George and Patsouris, Efstratios and Kakadiaris, Ioannis and Stefanadis, Christodoulos and Tousoulis, Dimitrios}
}
