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

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Abstract

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≤0.001), with still significant differences in PD-weighted sequence (P≤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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Andreas Koops, Harald Ittrich, Andrew Priest, Alexander Stork, Gerhard Adam & Christoph Weber

  2. Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Susan Petri

  3. Department of Forensic Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Ute Lockemann

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  1. Andreas Koops
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  2. Harald Ittrich
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  3. Susan Petri
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  4. Andrew Priest
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  6. Ute Lockemann
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  7. Gerhard Adam
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  8. Christoph Weber
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Correspondence to Andreas Koops.

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Koops, A., Ittrich, H., Petri, S. et al. Multicontrast-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of atherosclerotic plaques at 3.0 and 1.5 Tesla: ex-vivo comparison with histopathologic correlation. Eur Radiol 17, 279–286 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-006-0265-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-006-0265-7

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