ABSTRACT
Conventional x-ray angiography and magnetic resonance (MR) angiography* techniques adequately display the lumen of a vessel. Atherosclerosis, however, is a disease of the vessel wall. Thus, the management of atherosclerosis may be significantly improved if the vessel wall could be imaged directly. For example, recent reports from the literature suggest that the plaques that are vulnerable to rupture are not necessarily large enough to cause a stenosis that is visible with luminography techniques (1, 2). Unfortunately, most imaging techniques are unable to accurately identify the vessel wall and characterize the plaque. Perhaps the most important role for MR imaging in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis is the imaging and characterization of atherosclerotic plaques. Although the components of plaques can be visualized using T1-and T2-weighted MR imaging techniques, with advanced MR imaging techniques, a diffusion map of the plaque can be generated and vessel wall distensibility can be displayed. Research on the development of methods for the imaging and characterization of atherosclerotic plaques is quite extensive. Work in this field began with the introduction of the first MR scanners more than 15 years ago (3). Recently, the development of advanced MR scanners with high-speed gradient systems, high-volume data
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acquisition units, and novel pulse sequences made the imaging of plaques feasible.
