Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI to Study Atherosclerotic Plaque Microvasculature.
Rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque of the carotid artery is an important underlying cause of clinical ischemic events, such as stroke. Abundant microvasculature has been identified as an important aspect contributing to plaque vulnerability. Plaque microvasculature can be studied non-invasively with dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE-)MRI in animals and patients. In recent years, several DCE-MRI studies have been published evaluating the association between microvasculature and other key features of plaque vulnerability (e.g., inflammation and intraplaque hemorrhage), as well as the effects of novel therapeutic interventions. The present paper reviews this literature, focusing on DCE-MRI methods of acquisition and analysis of atherosclerotic plaques, the current state and future potential of DCE-MRI in the evaluation of plaque microvasculature in clinical and preclinical settings.
Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands.
Raf H M
RH
van Hoof
CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands.|Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), P.O. Box 5800, Maastricht, 6202 AZ, The Netherlands.
Sylvia
S
Heeneman
Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands.
Joachim E
JE
Wildberger
Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands. eline.kooi@mumc.nl.|CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands. eline.kooi@mumc.nl.
M Eline
ME
Kooi
D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D003287:Contrast Media
Atherosclerosis; Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI; Microvasculature; Quantification