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Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Evaluation of 3D multi-contrast joint intra- and extracranial vessel wall cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Authors: Zechen Zhou, Rui Li, Xihai Zhao, Le He, Xiaole Wang, Jinnan Wang, Niranjan Balu, Chun Yuan

Published in: Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

Multi-contrast vessel wall cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has demonstrated its capability for atherosclerotic plaque morphology measurement and component characterization in different vasculatures. However, limited coverage and partial volume effect with conventional two-dimensional (2D) techniques might cause lesion underestimation. The aim of this work is to evaluate the performance in a) blood suppression and b) vessel wall delineation of three-dimensional (3D) multi-contrast joint intra- and extracranial vessel wall imaging at 3T.

Methods

Three multi-contrast 3D black blood (BB) sequences with T1, T2 and heavy T1 weighting and a custom designed 36-channel neurovascular coil covering the entire intra- and extracranial vasculature have been used and investigated in this study. Two healthy subjects were recruited for sequence parameter optimization and twenty-five patients were consecutively scanned for image quality and blood suppression assessment. Qualitative image scores of vessel wall delineation as well as quantitative Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR) were evaluated at five typical locations ranging from common carotid arteries to middle cerebral arteries.

Results

The 3D multi-contrast images acquired within 15mins allowed the vessel wall visualization with 0.8 mm isotropic spatial resolution covering intra- and extracranial segments. Quantitative wall and lumen SNR measurements for each sequence showed effective blood suppression at all selected locations (P < 0.0001). Although the wall-lumen CNR varied across measured locations, each sequence provided good or adequate image quality in both intra- and extracranial segments.

Conclusions

The proposed 3D multi-contrast vessel wall technique provides isotropic resolution and time efficient solution for joint intra- and extracranial vessel wall CMR.

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Title: Evaluation of 3D multi-contrast joint intra- and extracranial vessel wall cardiovascular magnetic resonance
Authors: Zechen Zhou
Rui Li
Xihai Zhao
Le He
Xiaole Wang
Jinnan Wang
Niranjan Balu
Chun Yuan
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1532-429X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12968-015-0143-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Evaluation of 3D multi-contrast joint intra- and extracranial vessel wall cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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