title: A fast screening protocol for carotid plaques imaging using 3D multi-contrast MRI without contrast agent.
abstract: To implement a fast (~15min) MRI protocol for carotid plaque screening using 3D multi-contrast MRI sequences without contrast agent on a 3Tesla MRI scanner.
  
  
  
  7 healthy volunteers and 25 patients with clinically confirmed transient ischemic attack or suspected cerebrovascular ischemia were included in this study. The proposed protocol, including 3D T1-weighted and T2-weighted SPACE (variable-flip-angle 3D turbo spin echo), and T1-weighted magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE) was performed first and was followed by 2D T1-weighted and T2-weighted turbo spin echo, and post-contrast T1-weighted SPACE sequences. Image quality, number of plaques, and vessel wall thicknesses measured at the intersection of the plaques were evaluated and compared between sequences.
  
  
  
  Average examination time of the proposed protocol was 14.6min. The average image quality scores of 3D T1-weighted, T2-weighted SPACE, and T1-weighted magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo were 3.69, 3.75, and 3.48, respectively. There was no significant difference in detecting the number of plaques and vulnerable plaques using pre-contrast 3D images with or without post-contrast T1-weighted SPACE. The 3D SPACE and 2D turbo spin echo sequences had excellent agreement (R=0.96 for T1-weighted and 0.98 for T2-weighted, p<0.001) regarding vessel wall thickness measurements.
  
  
  
  The proposed protocol demonstrated the feasibility of attaining carotid plaque screening within a 15-minute scan, which provided sufficient anatomical coverage and critical diagnostic information. This protocol offers the potential for rapid and reliable screening for carotid plaques without contrast agent.
authors.affiliation: Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for MRI, Shenzhen, China; Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for MRI, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Anqi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for MRI, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Yiu-Cho
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for MRI, Shenzhen, China. Electronic address: xin.liu@siat.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071069:Multiple Chronic Conditions; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: 3D multi-contrast MRI; Carotid plaque; Dark blood imaging; Fast screening; MPRAGE; Space