Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque:MR Imaing at 3.0T Magneton / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the capability in detection and qualitative analysis of carotid atherosclerotic plaque with 3.0T MR scanner.Methods Bilateral carotid arteriae in thirty-two patients with arterosclerosis which detected by Doppler ultrasound were examined with a 3.0T MR scanner.The pulse sequences included 3D time of flight,FLASH-3D,TSE-DIR T_1WI,TSE-DIR PDWI-FS,DIR TSE-T_2WI-FS and TSE-T_2WI.According to AHA modified criteria of atherosclerosis typing,the signal characteristics of plaques were analysed.Results Carotid plaques were homogeneous signal intensity on all sequences in 30/49,heterogeneous signal intensity on at least one sequence in 15/49,among them,7 with lipid core,3/49 plaques contained calcification ,2/49 appeared as thrombosis and resulting in vessel occulusion,28/49 plaques presented the character of thick fibrous cap,13/49 plaques showed character of thin fibrous cap,the surfaces of 5/49 plaques were rough.Conclusion High resolution multiple sequences imaging with 3.0T MR scanner can be used for detection and qualitative analysis of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque in a certain degree.