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 ? statistics were calculated to assess interobserver agreement.
