We clearly demonstrated dynamic cross-sectional changes in the stenotic areas by 3T MRI, suggesting hemodynamic shear stress, which may further enhance MCA atherosclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to improve the visualization of long-axis black-blood imaging of the carotid arteries. We experimented on phantom and in-vivo study of 3 dimension (3D) inversion recovery T(1) turbo field echo combined with phase sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR-3D IR-T(1)TFE) at 3.0 Tesla. As a result, the contrast has been improved by calculated images of PSIR-3D IR-T(1)TFE set to inversion time (TI) 350 ms that is shorter than null point of blood. This displays that the contrast between blood and tissues can be improved when the longitudinal magnetization of blood is a negative. Therefore, the visualization of long-axis black-blood imaging of the carotid arteries has been improved by the calculated images of PSIR-3D IR-T(1)TFE set to TI that is shorter than null point of blood.