title: MRI of carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although MRI is widely used to observe atherosclerosis impacts on the vessel lumen, MRI also depicts the size of the plaque itself, its composition, and plaque inflammation, providing information beyond simple stenosis. This article summarizes the state of evidence for a clinical role for MRI of carotid atherosclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI of carotid atherosclerosis has a proven role in pharmaceutical trials and may improve patient management once large-scale clinical trials have been completed.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors: William S
authors: WS
authors: Kerwin
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Hatsukami
authors: Chun
authors: C
authors: Yuan
authors: Xue-Qiao
authors: XQ
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*