A. Schematic providing orientation of ultrasound snapshot still frames to assist
for examining still frames in (B). Components of the aortic arch: AA-ascending
aorta, DA-descending aorta, BC-brachiocephalic artery. CC-common carotid artery. Plaque
indicated by arrow forms at the bifurcation of the BC and AA. A ruptured plaque is seen
flapping in the BC lumen as indicated by dashed line on the inferior wall of the BC.
B. Still frame snapshots of a cine loop of ultrasound images. Cine loop was
300 images per second with chosen still frames at 2.967 sec/3.174 sec/4.278 sec taken from
a 20 second cine loop provided as an on-line video supplement. Components of the aortic arch: AA-ascending aorta,
DA-descending aorta, BC-brachiocephalic artery. CC-common carotid artery. Yellow arrow
points to plaque formation on superior wall of BC at the bifurcation of the BC with the
AA. Red arrow highlights cap flap moving in the plaque lumen during the cardiac cycle with
the three chosen still frames showing from left to right a flap which is not obstructing
the lumen/half obstructing the lumen/occluding the BC lumen.