TECHNIQUES FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION MR-IMAGING OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of dea th in the United States. Investigation of atherosclerotic plaque morph ology and composition is important because the findings may be useful in predicting prognosis or response to therapy. This study presents hi gh-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques developed on a 1.5-T whole-body imager with a custom-built surface coil, for charac terizing the composition and morphology of plaque removed at carotid e ndarterectomy. The initial comparison of MR imaging and histologic res ults showed good correlation. In conjunction with MR angiography, thes e techniques could be used in in vivo imaging to define the size, loca tion, and contents of atherosclerotic plaque at the carotid bifurcatio n.