[Imaging and differentiation of atherosclerotic plaque with magnetic resonance tomography].
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies have allowed the imaging of an atheroma, its size, shape, and lipid contents. The aim of our study was to characterize atherosclerotic lesions using a 0.5 T magnet, to delineate plaque components, and to compare MR results with histology. Thirty necropsy specimens of human iliac arteries were studied. Magnetic resonance imaging studies were carried out on a 0.5 Tesla superconducting magnet using a 5 cm surface coil. The position for the coronal MR planes was oriented by an external marker. The matrix size was 256 x 256, 4 NEX, and the FOV was 45 mm. The pulse sequences used included SE 520/29 and SE 2200/28 and 90. Signal intensity (SI) of fibrous plaques increased significantly from 28.3 +/- 3.8 to 49.1 +/- 8.2 (p < or = 0.0001) and decreased at SE 2200/90 to 24.1 +/- 6.8 (p < or = 0.0001). However, lipid plaque components showed no significant change in SI between T1-weighted pulse-sequences (28.2 +/- 5.4) and T2-weighted pulse-sequences (25.5 +/- 5.9). Only at SE 2200/90 SI of lipid plaques decreased significantly (11.8 +/- 3.9, p < or = 0.0001). As compared to histology, MR has shown a high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of fibrous and lipid plaque components. In conclusions, our study demonstrated that MR is highly effective in the characterization of atherosclerotic lesions.
Abt. für Kardiologie, Universität Wien.
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C
Loewe
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Oberhuber
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R
Loewe
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H
Frank
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology
Darstellung und Differenzierung atherosklerotischer Plaques mittels Magnetresonanz.