ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the utility of MRI with multiple contrast and dynamic contrast weightings enhancement(DCE) in evaluation of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. Methods Forty male New Zealand white rabbits were fed with hypercholesterolemic diet,and right iliac arteries including the common and external iliac arteries were examined by multiple contrast and DCE MRI at intervals 6 to 20 weeks after balloon denudation.For multiple contrast weightings scanning,T1-,T1-/T2WI with fat suppression,proton density weighted and double invention recovery were used.Meanwhile,post DCE T1-with fat suppression images were obtained in 1,5,15 and 25 min after a bolus injection of Gd-DTPA contrast agent.Then a comparative analysis of plaque morphology and components to images was performed. Results There were 34(42.5%) vulnerable plaques and 46(57.5%) stable plaques amomg the 80 atherosclerotic lesions located at the right common or external iliac arteries.The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of MRI with multiple contrast weightings and DCE for the detection of vulnerable plaques were 87.5%,94.1% and 82.6%,respectively,significantly higher than those only with multiple contrast weightings,which were 73.8%,82.3% and 67.4%,respectively(P