Carotid artery atherosclerosis: in vivo morphologic characterization with gadolinium-enhanced double-oblique MR imaging initial results

Radiology. 2002 May;223(2):566-73. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2232010659.

Abstract

In nine subjects with carotid atherosclerosis, double-oblique, contrast material-enhanced, double inversion-recovery, fast spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired through atheroma in the proximal internal carotid artery. Fibrocellular tissue within atheroma selectively enhanced 29% after administration of gadolinium-based contrast agent. Contrast enhancement helped discriminate fibrous cap from lipid core with a contrast-to-noise ratio as good as or better than that with T2-weighted MR images but with approximately twice the signal-to-noise ratio (postcontrast images, 36.6 +/- 3.6; T2-weighted images, 17.5 +/- 2.1; P <.001).

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / pathology*
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / surgery
  • Contrast Media
  • Endarterectomy, Carotid
  • Female
  • Gadolinium DTPA*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Gadolinium DTPA