ABSTRACT
Atherosclerosis is the major cause of heart disease. It is a central cause of other pathologic processes such as stroke and cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, certain aortic aneurysms, and ischemic bowel disease. The imaging techniques that exist for atherosclerosis may be grouped as either invasive or noninvasive methods. Magnetic resonance imaging can distinguish atherosclerotic plaque components based upon physical and chemical properties such as water content, molecular motion, energy and physical state, diffusion, motion as well as chemical makeup and concentration. Artherosclerosis of the coronary arteries is the major cause of heart disease. Atherosclerosis of the carotid artery is the major cause of cerebrovascular/neurologic infarcts or strokes. Within the study of atherosclerosis, a large goal of molecular imaging is to attain the capability to target specific plaque-associated molecules with agents that provide sensitive and specific contrast. Using ultrasound for molecular imaging involves the use of micro-bubbles with a targeting entity attached such as a ligand or antibody.
