MRI and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Plaque

Abstract

Abstract-Noninvasive high-resolution magnetic resonance has the potential to image atherosclerotic plaque and to determine its composition and microanatomy. This review summarizes the rationale for plaque imaging and describes the characteristics of plaque by use of existing MRI techniques.

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

“…Specifically, recent improvements in MR techniques (eg, blackblood MRI, faster imaging and detection coils), conducive to high-resolution and contrast imaging, have permitted the study of the various plaque components with multicontrast MR, generated by T 1 -and T 2 -weighted, proton-density-weighted, and time-of-flight imaging. 11,12,15,16 Moreover, MR provides imaging without ionizing radiation and can be repeated over time.…”

“…15,28 -31 Targeted imaging agents are generally created by chemically attaching an affinity ligand, such as an antibody, peptide, or small molecule, to a magnetic compound, such as superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide or gadolinium chelates. 15,28 Our expanding understanding of cellular and molecular events within atherosclerotic plaque has been accompanied by imaginative application of imaging tools, which has led to the new field of contrast-enhanced molecular MRI. Such molecular technology, when combined with high-resolution MRI, promises complementary structural and biological information and, therefore, more detailed plaque characterization.…”

Clinical Progression of Incidental, Asymptomatic Lesions Discovered During Culprit Vessel Coronary Intervention

“…5,6 However, the incidence of clinical plaque progression in a large, contemporary cohort of patients treated with culprit vessel PCI and medical therapy for secondary prevention is unknown. Furthermore, the risk factors for clinical plaque progression in such a PCI population have not been examined.…”

Assessment of the carotid artery by MRI at 3T: A study on reproducibility

“…Accurate assessments of the arterial vascular structure and possible changes in that structure over time are therefore of great importance because they both reflect the current disease burden and are predictive of future events. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged in recent years as a promising noninvasive imaging modality for the serial assessment of atherosclerosis (13)(14)(15). Its ability to quantify total plaque volume and disease burden has been demonstrated (16 -18).…”