SERIAL MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF EXPERIMENTAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS DETECTS LESION FINE-STRUCTURE, PROGRESSION AND COMPLICATIONS IN-VIVO

A major problem in the study of lesions of atherosclerosis is the diff iculty of imaging noninvasively the lesions and following their progre ssion in vivo. To address this problem, we have developed advanced mag netic resonance techniques to noninvasively arid serially image advanc ed lesions of atherosclerosis in the rabbit abdominal aorta. Both lume n and wail were imaged with high resolution. Progression of disease, r esulting in increase in lesion mass, decrease in arterial lumen, or st enosis, and intralesion complications, can be detected. Images acquire d in vivo correlate with the fine structure of the lesions of atherosc lerosis, including the fibrous cap, necrotic core, and lesion fissures , as verified by gross examination, dissection microscopy, and histolo gy. The ability to noninvasively identify the features of atherosclero tic plaques, has significant implications for determining risks and be nefits associated with different therapeutic approaches.