Detection of atherosclerotic plaque progression in the abdominal aorta of rabbits with 3T magnetic resonance imaging  

作　　者：MA Xiao-hai ZHAO Lei ZHAO Quan-ming FENG Ting-ting SHANG Jian-feng ZHANG Zhao-qi 

机构地区：[1]Department of Radiology Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China [2]Department of Cardiology Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China [3]Department of Pathology Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China

出　　处：《Chinese Medical Journal》2012年第15期2714-2718,共5页中华医学杂志（英文版）

基　　金：This research project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 30870733 and 30972810）.

摘　　要：Background With features of high tissue contrast, MRI can be used for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of atherosclerosis plaques. In this study we investigated the development of atherosclerosis plaque with high resolution 3T MRI in a rabbit model and compared the findings with the histopathological results. Method Twenty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated into an experimental group （n=16） and a control group （n=4）. Atherosclerotic lesions were induced in the abdominal aorta by balloon injury and cholesterol feeding. Multiple sequences MRI examination （ToF, TIWI, T2WI, and CE T1WI） were performed at the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th months after aortic denudation. Vessel wall thickness, total vessel area, lumen area, and vessel wall area were recorded. Plaque components were analyzed using histological results as a standard reference. Results Seventeen rabbits （14 in the experimental group and 3 in the control group） received all three MR examinations. Gradually, from 2 months to 4 months, vessel wall thickness and area in the experimental group increased significantly compared with the control group （P 〈0.01）. In the lumen area progressive stenosis was not found, even a slight dilation had developed in the experimental group. Lipid, fibrotic and calcified plaques can be differentiated by MR image. According to histological results, MRI had good performance in detection of lipid plaque. Conclusion MRI can be used to monitor progression of atherosclerosis and differentiate plaque components.Background With features of high tissue contrast, MRI can be used for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of atherosclerosis plaques. In this study we investigated the development of atherosclerosis plaque with high resolution 3T MRI in a rabbit model and compared the findings with the histopathological results. Method Twenty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated into an experimental group （n=16） and a control group （n=4）. Atherosclerotic lesions were induced in the abdominal aorta by balloon injury and cholesterol feeding. Multiple sequences MRI examination （ToF, TIWI, T2WI, and CE T1WI） were performed at the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th months after aortic denudation. Vessel wall thickness, total vessel area, lumen area, and vessel wall area were recorded. Plaque components were analyzed using histological results as a standard reference. Results Seventeen rabbits （14 in the experimental group and 3 in the control group） received all three MR examinations. Gradually, from 2 months to 4 months, vessel wall thickness and area in the experimental group increased significantly compared with the control group （P 〈0.01）. In the lumen area progressive stenosis was not found, even a slight dilation had developed in the experimental group. Lipid, fibrotic and calcified plaques can be differentiated by MR image. According to histological results, MRI had good performance in detection of lipid plaque. Conclusion MRI can be used to monitor progression of atherosclerosis and differentiate plaque components.

关 键 词：magnetic resonance imaging  atherosclerosis PROGRESSION abdominal aorta 

分 类 号：R445.2[医药卫生—影像医学与核医学] R543[医药卫生—诊断学]