title: Screening for atherosclerotic plaques in the abdominal aorta in high-risk patients with multicontrast-weighted MRI: a prospective study at 3.0 and 1.5 tesla.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This prospective study compares MRI of atherosclerotic plaque in the abdominal aorta at 3 T with that at 1.5 T in patients suffering from hereditary hyperlipidaemia, a major risk factor for atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI of the abdominal aorta at 1.5 and 3 T was performed in 21 patients (mean age 58 years). The study protocol consisted of proton density (PD), T(1), T(2) and fat-saturated T(2) weighted black blood images of the abdominal aorta in corresponding orientation. Two independent radiologists performed image rating. First, image quality was rated on a five-point scale. Second, atherosclerotic plaques were scored according to the modified American Heart Association (AHA) classification and analysed for field strength-related differences. Weighted κ statistics were calculated to assess interobserver agreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interobserver agreement was substantial for nearly all categories. MRI at 3 T offered superior image quality in all contrast weightings, most significantly in T(1) and T(2) weighted techniques. Plaque burden in the study collective was unexpectedly moderate. The majority of plaques were classified as AHA III lesions; no lesions were classified above AHA V. There was no significant influence of the field strength regarding the AHA classification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominal aortal plaque screening is basically feasible at both field strengths, whereas the image quality is rated superior at 3 T. However, the role of the method in clinical practice remains uncertain, since substantial findings in the high-risk collective were scarce.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. jbuhk@uke.de
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Buhk
authors.forename: A-K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Finck-Wedel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buchert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bannas
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schnackenburg
authors.forename: F U
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Beil
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000150:complications*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index