VIE could be used as a complementary tool to conventional CT visualizations for the analysis of luminal changes and assessment of disease extent caused by the coronary plaques.

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Introduction: High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spinal cord is important to provide accurate diagnosis and pathological assessment of injuries. MEDIC (Multiple Echo Data Image Combination) sequences have been used in clinical MRI; however, a comparison of the performance of 2D and 3D MEDIC for cervical spinal cord imaging has not been reported. The aim of this study is to compare axial 2D and 3D MEDIC for the visualisation of the grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) of the human cervical spinal cord. Methods: Eight healthy participants were scanned using Siemens Prisma fit 3T MRI. T2*-weighted gradient spoiled 2D and 3D MEDIC sequences were acquired at 0.4 × 0.4 × 3.0 and 0.3 × 0.3 × 3.0 mm resolutions, with the acquisition times of 6 and 7 min, respectively. Quantitative analyses of the images were made based on the image signal-tonoise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and non-uniformity (NU). Two independent radiologists (CS and FN), each provided Likert scoring assessments of anatomical visibility of the GM and WM structures and image clarity for all samples. Results: Quantitative evaluation showed that 3D MEDIC provided higher SNR, higher CNR and lower NU than 2D MEDIC. However, 2D MEDIC provided better anatomical visibility for the GM, WM and CSF, and higher image clarity (lower artefacts) compared to 3D MEDIC. Conclusions: 2D MEDIC provides better information for depicting the internal structures of the cervical spinal cord compared to 3D MEDIC.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the potential diagnostic value of 3D virtual intravascular endoscopy in the visualization of coronary artery plaques in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Ten patients suspected of coronary artery disease undergoing 64-slice computed tomography scans were included in the study. Four main coronary artery branches including right coronary artery, left main stem, left anterior descending and left circumflex were assessed using virtual intravascular endoscopy with emphasis on the intraluminal appearance of coronary plaques (calcified and noncalcified plaques). Position of the plaques and degree of vessel stenosis was compared with 2D axial images in each patient. Coronary artery disease with >50% stenosis was found in 6 patients involving 7 left anterior descending and 3 right coronary artery branches. Left anterior descending branch was commonly affected with extensive calcification, while more than half of the right coronary arteries were involved with noncalcified plaques. Our results showed that virtual intravascular endoscopy provides unique information of the coronary plaques by demonstrating the intraluminal configuration of coronary plaques, position of the plaques in relation to the artery branches. Both calcified and noncalcified plaques can be identified on virtual endoscopy images. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of virtual intravascular endoscopy in the quantification of plaque volume, stratification of patients suffering from coronary artery disease and patients management