This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Räsänen, H. T. Articles by Saari, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Räsänen, H. T. Articles by Saari, T. Related Collections Carotid Stenosis Angiography Computerized tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

(Stroke. 1999;30:827-833.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Mild Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis

Assessment by 3-Dimensional Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography, With Reference to Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging and Contrast Angiography

Heikki T. Räsänen, MD; Hannu I. Manninen, MD, PhD; Ritva L. Vanninen, MD, PhD; Pauli Vainio, PhL; Marja Berg, MD Tapani Saari, MD

From the Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital (Finland).

Background and Purpose—Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of 3-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3-D TOF MRA) in detection and quantification of mild atherosclerotic changes of carotid arteries with reference to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and contrast angiography.

Methods—TOF MRA at 1.5 T, IVUS, and selective digital subtraction angiography were performed on 31 extracranial carotid arteries of 27 patients (mean age, 52 years; age range, 17 to 75 years) undergoing neuroendovascular interventions. The atherosclerotic lesions were registered, and quantitative measurements of plaque thickness, luminal diameters, and diameter stenosis were independently performed for the imaging modalities.

Results—Among 170 arterial segments analyzed, IVUS revealed a total of 48 atherosclerotic lesions (mean diameter stenosis, 17%; range, 4% to 40%), only 25 of which were depicted on digital subtraction angiography. Analysis of the axial source images of TOF MRA resulted in sensitivity of 77% to 83% and specificity of 71% to 80% in lesion depiction for the 2 readers with reference to IVUS. The values of diameter stenosis measured from MRA and IVUS were closely interrelated (r=0.53 to 0.61, P<0.001).

Conclusions—Three-dimensional TOF MRA is feasible and moderately accurate for evaluation of mild atherosclerotic changes of carotid arteries.

Key Words: angiography • carotid artery diseases • magnetic resonance angiography • ultrasonography, interventional

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. E. Latchaw, M. J. Alberts, M. H. Lev, J. J. Connors, R. E. Harbaugh, R. T. Higashida, R. Hobson, C. S. Kidwell, W. J. Koroshetz, V. Mathews, et al. Recommendations for Imaging of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Stroke, November 1, 2009; 40(11): 3646 - 3678. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D Mitra, D Connolly, S Jenkins, P English, D Birchall, C Mandel, K Shrikanth, B Gregson, and A Gholkar Comparison of image quality, diagnostic confidence and interobserver variability in contrast enhanced MR angiography and 2D time of flight angiography in evaluation of carotid stenosis. Br. J. Radiol., March 1, 2006; 79(939): 201 - 207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-M. Serfaty, E. Atalar, J. Declerck, P. Karmakar, H. H. Quick, K. A. Shunk, A. W. Heldman, and X. Yang Real-time Projection MR Angiography: Feasibility Study Radiology, October 1, 2000; 217(1): 290 - 295. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. S. Hatsukami, R. Ross, N. L. Polissar, and C. Yuan Visualization of Fibrous Cap Thickness and Rupture in Human Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaque In Vivo With High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging Circulation, August 29, 2000; 102(9): 959 - 964. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]