Improvements in carotid plaque imaging using a new eight-element phased array coil at 3T.
OBJECTIVE
To design and compare an eight-channel phased array (PA) coil for carotid imaging to an established four-channel PA design at 3T.


METHODS
An eight-channel PA (8PA) coil was designed specifically for imaging the carotid bifurcation and compared with the existing four-channel (4PA) design using a phantom and by in vivo black-blood magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The 8PA and 4PA were compared in terms of coverage, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).


RESULTS
The 8PA showed up to 1.7-fold improvement in SNR at a depth of 3.5 cm and greater longitudinal coverage at a given SNR on a phantom. The 8PA showed improved vessel wall SNR for high spatial resolution (0.63 mm(2)) PD, T1, and T2 (1.7, 1.7, 1.6 times, respectively; P <or= 0.002) and improved CNR (1.7, 1.6, 1.5 times, respectively; P <or= 0.002). Ultrahigh-resolution (0.27 mm(2)) T1-weighted images showed better SNR and CNR (1.4 times, P <or= 0.0001) on 8PA compared to 4PA.


CONCLUSIONS
Carotid imaging studies may benefit from the improved SNR and larger coverage provided by use of the 8PA.
Balu
Niranjan
N
Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. ninja@u.washington.edu
Yarnykh
Vasily L
VL
Scholnick
Joshua
J
Chu
Baocheng
B
Yuan
Chun
C
Hayes
Cecil
C
D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging
D003287:Contrast Media