How do age, sex, and carotid segment influence carotid ultrasonography based on vector flow imaging and radiofrequency analysis in healthy subjects

Q: What was the study’s main objective regarding age, sex, and carotid segments?

To evaluate segmental age- and sex-related differences in the carotid artery using VFI and RVQS in healthy subjects.

Q: Which carotid segments and measurements were analyzed?

Common carotid artery (CCA), bifurcation (BIF), and internal carotid artery (ICA) segments were examined, with VFI measures of wall shear stress and turbulence and RVQS measures of hardness coefficient and pulse wave velocity plus distension.

Q: How did age affect arterial stiffness and distension in healthy participants?

Older participants had markedly stiffer arteries, with higher pulse wave velocity at CCA and BIF and higher hardness coefficient in CCA and BIF; distension decreased with age at both CCA and BIF.

Q: Did wall shear stress and turbulence vary with age or sex?

Wall shear stress and turbulence did not differ significantly by age, but women showed higher mean wall shear stress in ICA and BIF, while men showed slightly higher turbulence in ICA.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Rainbow Cat

Atherosclerosis is driven by hemodynamic forces and arterial stiffness, yet vector flow imaging (VFI) and radiofrequency-based quantitative analysis (RVQS) have rarely been combined in a well-characterised healthy cohort. This study assessed segmental effects of age and sex on carotid arteries using VFI-derived wall shear stress and turbulence and RVQS hardness coefficient and pulse wave velocity, analyzing common, bifurcation, and internal carotid segments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Kılıç et al. BMC Medical Imaging (2026) 26:1 [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-02067-4](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-02067-4) BMC Medical Imaging RESEARCH Open Access How do age, sex, and carotid segment influence carotid ultrasonography based on vector flow imaging and radiofrequency analysis in healthy subjects? Atiye Cenay Karabörk Kılıç 1*, Nezih Yaylı 1,4, Burak Kalafat 1, Halit Nahit Şendur 1, Mahi Nur Cerit 1, Cansu Özbaş2, Sevcihan Kesen Özbek 1, Taylan Altıparmak3 and Suna Özhan Oktar 1 Abstract Objectives Atherosclerosis is influenced by hemodynamic forces and arterial stiffness. Vector flow imaging (VFI) provides assessment of wall shear stress (WSS) and turbulence, while radiofrequency-based quantitative analysis (RVQS) measures hardness coefficient (HC) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) . To date, these techniques have not been applied together in a well-characterised healthy cohort. This study aimed to evaluate segmental age and sex-related differences in the carotid artery using VFI and RVQS. Methods Sixty healthy volunteers (30 women, 30 men; aged 20–59 years) underwent carotid ultrasonography. The common carotid artery (CCA), the bifurcation (BIF), and the internal carotid artery (ICA) segments were examined. WSS, turbulence, HC, PWV, and distension parameters were measured in each segment. Non-parametric tests were used. Results Significant segmental variation was found (p < 0. 001) . The BIF showed the lowest mean WSS (median = 0.84 Pa, < 0. 001), the highest turbulence 3.87 (< 0 . 001), and the highest stiffness (HC: 3.22 < 0. 001, PWV: 6. 04, < 0. 001) . ICA had greatest distension (866 μm, < 0. 001) and lowest stiffness (HC = 1 . 25, < 0. 001, PWV: 3,83 < 0. 001) . Older participants had markedly stiffer arteries. PWV was higher in the older vs. younger group at both CCA (6 .1 m/s vs. 4.6 m/s, p < 0. 001) and BIF (7 . 2 vs. 4.96 m/s, p < 0. 001) . HC was also significantly higher in CCA and BIF (3 .3 vs. 1. 8, p < 0. 001, 1.3 vs. 2. 3, p < 0. 001) . Distension decreased with age in CCA and BIF (CCA: 364 vs. 560 μm, p < 0. 001, BIF: 547 vs. 355 μm, p < 0. 001) . In contrast, WSS and turbulence did not differ significantly by age. Women exhibited higher mean WSS in the ICA (1 .3 vs. 1.1 Pa, p = 0 . 018) and BIF (0 . 94 vs. 0.74 Pa, p = 0 . 045) . Men showed slightly higher turbulence in the ICA (TAT = 1.1 vs. 0. 5, p = 0 . 020) . Conclusion The study revealed marked segmental and demographic differences in atherosclerosis parameters. RVQS parameters showed significant age-related differences, whereas WSS did not vary with age in this healthy group *Correspondence: Atiye Cenay Karabörk Kılıç [karabork@gazi.edu.tr](karabork@gazi.edu.tr) Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit [http://creativecommons.org/l](http://creativecommons.org/l)icenses/by/4.0/. Kılıç et al. BMC Medical Imaging (2026) 26:1 Page 2 of 10 (20–59 years), suggesting RVQS may be more sensitive for detecting subclinical early vascular change. The combined application of VFI and RVQS may provide a physiologic reference framework for assessing the carotid arteries

FAQs

What was the study’s main objective regarding age, sex, and carotid segments?

To evaluate segmental age- and sex-related differences in the carotid artery using VFI and RVQS in healthy subjects.

Which carotid segments and measurements were analyzed?

Common carotid artery (CCA), bifurcation (BIF), and internal carotid artery (ICA) segments were examined, with VFI measures of wall shear stress and turbulence and RVQS measures of hardness coefficient and pulse wave velocity plus distension.

How did age affect arterial stiffness and distension in healthy participants?

Older participants had markedly stiffer arteries, with higher pulse wave velocity at CCA and BIF and higher hardness coefficient in CCA and BIF; distension decreased with age at both CCA and BIF.

Did wall shear stress and turbulence vary with age or sex?

Wall shear stress and turbulence did not differ significantly by age, but women showed higher mean wall shear stress in ICA and BIF, while men showed slightly higher turbulence in ICA.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Rainbow Cat