Evolutionary Aspects of Polydistrict Atherosclerosis

"Ultrasonographic examination will be performed using a high-resolution (Epiq Elite Philips Medical Systems, Monza, Italia) and a linear 12-9 MHz transducer.~The patients will be placed in a supine position. Starting with the probe at the base of the neck, the common carotid artery will be explored on the transverse plane and then on the sagittal one, continuing in a cranial sense up to the carotid bifurcation. The medium-intimal thickness will be measured, defined as distance from the first hyperechoic line to the second hyperechoic line.~The femoropopliteal and run-off segments will be continuously scanned from the subinguinal region to the paramalleolar region with axial and sagittal scans. All segments will be examined for the presence of vessel wall calcifications and/or atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, flow velocity measurements will be obtained using spectral Doppler imaging and color Doppler imaging."