Multicenter Validation Study of Real Time (B Mode) Ultrasound, Arteriography, and Pathology: V. Pathologic Evaluation of Endarteroctomy Specimens and of Perfusion Fixed Carotid Arteries

During the implementation of an NIH sponsored contract program titled “Assessment of Ultrasonic B-Scan Imaging for Detection and Quantification of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Human Carotid Arteries”, 289 endarterectomy specimens became available for pathologic examination at five participating centers (Miami Heart Institute, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, New England Deaconess Medical Center, Jefferson Medical College, and University of Rochester Medical Center). These specimens were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, decalcified, and cross-sectioned at 3 mm intervals. An overlay template was used to measure lumen diameters and near and far wall thickness in four planes.