title: Carotid magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring atherosclerotic plaque progression: a multicenter reproducibility study.
abstract: This study sought to determine the multicenter reproducibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the compatibility of different scanner platforms in assessing carotid plaque morphology and composition. A standardized multi-contrast MRI protocol was implemented at 16 imaging sites (GE: 8; Philips: 8). Sixty-eight subjects (61 ± 8 years; 52 males) were dispersedly recruited and scanned twice within 2 weeks on the same magnet. Images were reviewed centrally using a streamlined semiautomatic approach. Quantitative volumetric measurements on plaque morphology (lumen, wall, and outer wall) and plaque tissue composition [lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC), calcification, and fibrous tissue] were obtained. Inter-scan reproducibility was summarized using the within-subject standard deviation, coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Good to excellent reproducibility was observed for both morphological (ICC range 0.98-0.99) and compositional (ICC range 0.88-0.96) measurements. Measurement precision was related to the size of structures (CV range 2.5-4.9 % for morphology, 36-44 % for LRNC and calcification). Comparable measurement variability was found between the two platforms on both plaque morphology and tissue composition. In conclusion, good to excellent inter-scan reproducibility of carotid MRI can be achieved in multicenter settings with comparable measurement precision between platforms, which may facilitate future multicenter endeavors that use serial MRI to monitor atherosclerotic plaque progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, 850 Republican St Brotman 127, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA, sunjie@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xue-Qiao
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balu
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hippe
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Hatsukami
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Isquith
authors.forename: Kiyofumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Moni B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Neradilek
authors.forename: Gádor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantón
authors.forename: Yunjing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Jerome L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fleg
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desvigne-Nickens
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Klimas
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Padley
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Vassileva
authors.forename: Bradley T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Wyman
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002681:China; D018450:Disease Progression; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D015588:Observer Variation; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids