Determination of carotid artery atherosclerotic lesion type and distribution in hypercholesterolemic patients with moderate carotid stenosis using noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to noninvasively determine carotid atherosclerotic lesion type and distribution and to evaluate the reproducibility of determining lesion types in asymptomatic patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia and moderate carotid artery (CA) stenosis using MRI.


METHODS
Forty-two asymptomatic patients with moderate CA stenosis underwent bilateral carotid MRI in a 1.5-T scanner using a protocol that generated 4 contrast weightings (T1, T2, proton density, and 3D time of flight). MRI-modified American Heart Association criteria were used to evaluate lesion types at 3 locations (common and internal CA [CCA and ICA, respectively] and CA bifurcation) and at the minimum lumen area. Two identical MR scans were conducted to evaluate reproducibility of lesion types.


RESULTS
Lesion types were obtained from 230 locations. Type III (39%) occurred most commonly, followed by types IV-V (25%), I-II (20%), VI (12%), and VII (4%). Type III was more commonly distributed in the CCA (n=35, 39%) and ICA (n=32, 36%). Type IV-V was more commonly distributed in the CCA (n=24, 41%) and at the bifurcation (n=21, 36%). Forty-two lesions were available at the site of minimum lumen area: type III (33%), IV-V (33%), VI (29%), and VII (5%). There was good agreement of lesion types between both MRI scans (Cohen's kappa=0.73; 95% CI: 0.65 to 0.81).


CONCLUSIONS
MRI can determine lesion types reproducibly as well as the distribution of lesions in hypercholesterolemic patients with moderate CA stenosis. A wide range of lesion types, including advanced lesions, were found in these patients.
Department of Radiology, Box 357115, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. chubc@u.washington.edu
Baocheng
B
Chu
Thomas S
TS
Hatsukami
Nayak L
NL
Polissar
Xue-Qiao
XQ
Zhao
Lawrence W
LW
Kraiss
Dennis L
DL
Parker
John C
JC
Waterton
Joel S
JS
Raichlen
Wendy
W
Hamar
Chun
C
Yuan
D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results