Micro-CT of carotid arteries: a tool for experimental studies.
Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a high-resolution, non-destructive tool for two- and three-dimensional imaging and quantification. The ability of this technique to assess atherosclerosis of the carotid artery was evaluated in three human cadaver samples based on the original axial acquisitions, multiplanar reconstructions and volume rendering techniques. Quantitative analysis included the calculation of: (1) the original lumen perimeter, original lumen area, plaque area, residual lumen area, calcified area and gross sectional area reduction of the vascular lumen from two-dimensional slices; (2) the total tissue volume, soft tissue volume and calcified tissue volume from the three-dimensional data set. This preliminary study demonstrates the potential of micro-CT as a supplementary method for the two- and three-dimensional ex vivo evaluation of carotid atherosclerosis.
Mohr
Andreas
A
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany. andreas.mohr@rad.uni-kiel.de
Wenke
Ruediger
R
Roemer
Frank W
FW
Lynch
John A
JA
Gatzka
Christian
C
Priebe
Markus
M
Guermazi
Ali
A
Grigorian
Mikayel
M
Heller
Martin
M
Mueller-Huelsbeck
Stefan
S
D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002102:Cadaver; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*