RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of USPIO-enhanced and Gd-enhanced MRI in atherosclerosis and to compare the detection rate of atherosclerotic plaque between them. Methods Thirty-five healthy male rabbits were assigned to experimental group (n=30) to establish a model of atherosclerosis by damaging aortic tunica intima with Foley′s tube in combination with a high fat diet and 5 to control group without any intervention. At week 12, USPIO-enhanced and Gd-enhanced MRI scanning were conducted to compare the signal changes of atherosclerotic plaque before and after enhancement with the 2 contrast media. Ninety seven pictures were randomly selected respectively from the pictures enhanced by the 2 contrast media to compare the detection rate plaque between them. Pthology examination was used for detection standard. For the control group , pictures were randomly selected. Results In the experimental group, 7 rabbits died of Foley′s tube damaging, 2 died of raising and 1 died of anesthesia. All 5 rabbits in control group survived. A total of 172 pathological sections were made with 134 plaques and 72 vulnerable plaques pathologically confirmed. In pictures enhanced by USPIO , 84 plaques were confirmed by HE staining with a detection rate of 86.6%. In pictures enhanced by Gd, 72 plaques were confirmed by HE staining with a detection rate of 74.2%. Detection rate of USPIO-enhanced MRI in atherosclerosis plaque was significantly higher than that of Gd-enhanced MRI (X2=3.96, P=0.046). Conclusion USPIO shows its superiority as a new contrast medium in detection of atherosclerosis plaque.