Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the value of conventional ultrasonic in diagnosis of carotid atherosclerotic plaques comparing with contrastenhanced ultrasound. MethodsThe clinical data included conventional and contrastenhanced ultrasound image of 54 cerebrovascular patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques which confirmed by conventional ultrasonic. ResultsThe conventional ultrasound in seven patients showed low echo plaques confirmed by contrastenhanced ultrasound plaque only for grade Ⅰ;  conventional ultrasound in five patients showed high echo plaques confirmed by contrastenhanced ultrasound plaque for grade  ⅢⅣ;  contrastenhanced ultrasound imaging in three patients  showed the plaque of internal carotid lateral wall that conventional ultrasonic failed to clearly find. Carotid artery stenosis was confirmed by conventional ultrasonic and contrastenhanced ultrasound in two patients， stenosis rate was estimated for 50%69%.  ConclusionContrastenhanced ultrasound is better than conventional ultrasonic in diagnosis of carotid atherosclerotic plaques， especially finding the lateral wall plaque of carotid artery， observing the angiogenesis in atherosclerosis plaque and assessment of plaque stability.

Key words: carotid artery thrombosis；contrast media, ultrasonography