title: In vivo positive contrast IRON sequence and quantitative T(2)* measurement confirms inflammatory burden in a patient with asymptomatic carotid atheroma after USPIO-enhanced MR imaging.
abstract: The authors report an in vivo human examination of carotid atheroma by using the inversion-recovery ON resonance (IRON) sequence, which is able to produce positive contrast after the infusion of an ultrasmall super paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) contrast medium. This technique provides a method of potentially identifying inflammatory burden within carotid atheroma. This may be particularly useful in patients who currently do not meet criteria for intervention (ie, moderate symptomatic stenosis or <70% asymptomatic stenosis) to further risk-stratify this important patient cohort. A 63-year-old man was imaged at 1.5 T before and 36 hours after USPIO infusion by using the IRON sequence. Regions of interest showing profound signal loss at T(2)*-weighted imaging corresponded well with regions of positive contrast at IRON imaging after the administration of USPIO. These regions also showed a profound decrease in T(2)* measurements after USPIO infusion, whereas surrounding tissue did not. It has been shown that such strong signal loss on T(2)*-weighted images after USPIO infusion is indicative of USPIO uptake.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Radiology, Cambridge, England.
authors.forename: Simon P S
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Howarth
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tjun Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: U-King-Im
authors.forename: Jonathan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gillard
mesh_terms: D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003911:Dextrans; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007501:Iron; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; C097921:ferumoxtran-10; D007501:Iron; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide