Multicontrast-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of atherosclerotic plaques at 3.0 and 1.5 Tesla: ex-vivo comparison with histopathologic correlation.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Multicontrast-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of atherosclerotic plaques at 3.0 and 1.5 Tesla: ex-vivo comparison with histopathologic correlation.

AU - Koops, Andreas

AU - Ittrich, Harald

AU - Petri, Susan

AU - Priest, Andrew

AU - Stork, Alexander

AU - Lockemann, Ute

AU - Adam, Gerhard

AU - Weber, Christoph

PY - 2007/1/1

Y1 - 2007/1/1

N2 - The purpose was to analyze magnetic resonance (MR) plaque imaging at 3.0 Tesla and 1.5 Tesla in correlation with histopathology. MR imaging (MRI) of the abdominal aorta and femoral artery was performed on seven corpses using T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and PD-weighted sequences at 3.0 and 1.5 Tesla. Cross-sectional images at the branching of the inferior mesenteric artery and the profunda femoris were rated with respect to image quality. Corresponding cross sections of the imaged vessels were obtained at autopsy. The atherosclerotic plaques in the histological slides and MR images were classified according to the American Heart Association (AHA) and analyzed for differences. MRI at 3.0 Tesla offered superior depiction of arterial wall composition in all contrast weightings, rated best for T2-weighted images. Comparing for field strength, the highest differences were observed in T1-weighted and T2-weighted techniques (both P<or =0.001), with still significant differences in PD-weighted sequence (P<or =0.005). The majority of plaques were histologically classified as calcified plaques. In up to 21% of the cases, MRI at both field strengths detected signal loss characteristic of calcification although calcified plaque was absent in histology. MRI at 3.0 Tesla offers superior plaque imaging quality compared with 1.5 Tesla, but further work is necessary to determine whether this translates in superior diagnostic accuracy.

AB - The purpose was to analyze magnetic resonance (MR) plaque imaging at 3.0 Tesla and 1.5 Tesla in correlation with histopathology. MR imaging (MRI) of the abdominal aorta and femoral artery was performed on seven corpses using T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and PD-weighted sequences at 3.0 and 1.5 Tesla. Cross-sectional images at the branching of the inferior mesenteric artery and the profunda femoris were rated with respect to image quality. Corresponding cross sections of the imaged vessels were obtained at autopsy. The atherosclerotic plaques in the histological slides and MR images were classified according to the American Heart Association (AHA) and analyzed for differences. MRI at 3.0 Tesla offered superior depiction of arterial wall composition in all contrast weightings, rated best for T2-weighted images. Comparing for field strength, the highest differences were observed in T1-weighted and T2-weighted techniques (both P<or =0.001), with still significant differences in PD-weighted sequence (P<or =0.005). The majority of plaques were histologically classified as calcified plaques. In up to 21% of the cases, MRI at both field strengths detected signal loss characteristic of calcification although calcified plaque was absent in histology. MRI at 3.0 Tesla offers superior plaque imaging quality compared with 1.5 Tesla, but further work is necessary to determine whether this translates in superior diagnostic accuracy.

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Aorta, Abdominal

KW - Aortic Diseases

KW - Atherosclerosis

KW - Cadaver

KW - Female

KW - Femoral Artery

KW - Humans

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

U2 - 10.1007/s00330-006-0265-7

DO - 10.1007/s00330-006-0265-7

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 16642325

VL - 17

SP - 279

EP - 286

JO - EUR RADIOL

JF - EUR RADIOL

SN - 0938-7994

IS - 1

M1 - 1

ER -