Volume 26, Issue 4 pp. 406-413

Original Research

Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaque Composition: A 3T and 7T MRI-Histology Correlation Study

M.R. Lopez Gonzalez,

M.R. Lopez Gonzalez

Department of Clinical Physics and Bioengineering, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK

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S.Y. Foo,

S.Y. Foo

ST1, West of Scotland Radiology Training Scheme, NHS, Glasgow, UK

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W.M. Holmes,

Corresponding Author

W.M. Holmes

Glasgow Experimental MRI Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK

Correspondence: Address correspondence to William Holmes, Glasgow Experimental Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH. E-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this author

W. Stewart,

W. Stewart

Department of Neuropathology, Laboratory Medicine Building, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK

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K.W. Muir,

K.W. Muir

Centre for Stroke and Brain Imaging Research, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK

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B. Condon,

B. Condon

Institute of Neurological Sciences, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, UK

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G. Welch,

G. Welch

Vascular Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK

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K.P. Forbes,

K.P. Forbes

Institute of Neurological Sciences, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, UK

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M.R. Lopez Gonzalez,

M.R. Lopez Gonzalez

Department of Clinical Physics and Bioengineering, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK

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S.Y. Foo,

S.Y. Foo

ST1, West of Scotland Radiology Training Scheme, NHS, Glasgow, UK

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W.M. Holmes,

Corresponding Author

W.M. Holmes

Glasgow Experimental MRI Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK

W. Stewart,

W. Stewart

Department of Neuropathology, Laboratory Medicine Building, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK

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K.W. Muir,

K.W. Muir

Centre for Stroke and Brain Imaging Research, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK

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B. Condon,

B. Condon

Institute of Neurological Sciences, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, UK

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G. Welch,

G. Welch

Vascular Surgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK

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K.P. Forbes,

K.P. Forbes

Institute of Neurological Sciences, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, UK

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First published: 25 February 2016

https://doi.org/10.1111/jon.12332

Citations: 12

Sources of Funding: This work was funded by the Chief Scientist Office, Scotland.

Disclosures/Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque composition may influence plaque stability and risk of thromboembolic events, and noninvasive plaque imaging may therefore permit risk stratification for clinical management. Plaque composition was compared using noninvasive in vivo (3T) and ex vivo (7T) MRI and histopathological examination.

METHODS

Thirty-three endarterectomy cross-sections, from 13 patients, were studied. The data sets consisted of in vivo 3T MRI, ex vivo 7T MRI, and histopathology. Semiautomated segmentation methods were used to measure areas of different plaque components. Bland-Altman plots and mean difference with 95% confidence interval were carried out.

RESULTS

There was general quantitative agreement between areas derived from semiautomated segmentation of MRI data and histology measurements. The mean differences and 95% confidence bounds in the relative to total plaque area between 3T versus Histology were: fibrous tissue 4.99%(–4.56 to 14.56), lipid-rich/necrotic core (LR/NC) with hemorrhage –1.81%(–14.11 to 10.48), LR/NC without hemorrhage –2.43%(–13.04 to 8.17), and calcification –3.18%(–11.55 to 5.18). The mean differences and 95% confidence bounds in the relative to total plaque area between 7T and histology were: fibrous tissue 3.17%(–3.17 to 9.52), LR/NC with hemorrhage –0.55%(–9.06 to 7.95), LR/NC without hemorrhage –12.62%(–19.8 to –5.45), and calcification –2.43%(–9.97 to 4.73).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that semiautomated segmentation of 3T/7T MRI techniques can help to determine atherosclerotic plaque composition. In particular, the high resolution of ex vivo 7T data was able to highlight greater detail in the atherosclerotic plaque composition. High-field MRI may therefore have advantages for in vivo carotid plaque MRI.

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Volume26, Issue4

July/August 2016

Pages 406-413

Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaque Composition: A 3T and 7T MRI-Histology Correlation Study

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

METHODS

RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS

References

Citing Literature

References

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Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaque Composition: A 3T and 7T MRI-Histology Correlation Study

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

METHODS

RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS

References

Citing Literature

References

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