Magnetic resonance imaging of atherosclerotic lesion with new devised animal surface coil

Abstract

The ability of dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) with a new devised animal surface coil was analyzed in identifying atherosclerotic plaques in the rabbit medium-sized iliac artery (IA). Then a comparative analysis of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) and DCE MRI was done in discerning morphology and components of 80 atherosclerotic plaques identified by histopathology. It shows that the DCE MRI may be an emerging noninvasive and economic way to characterize atherosclerotic plaques at present. What’s more, a new devised animal surface coil would further improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the quality of imaging. However, CT angiography (CTA) may be better than MR angiography( MRA) in detecting vessel stenosis.