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Ex vivo identification of atherosclerotic plaque calcification by a 31 P solid‐state magnetic resonance imaging technique
Author(s) -
Hallock Kevin J.,
Hamilton James A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.21089
Subject(s) - calcification , ex vivo , magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , in vivo , nuclear magnetic resonance , pathology , nuclear medicine , radiology , biology , physics , microbiology and biotechnology
Calcified tissue is a common component of atherosclerotic plaques, and occurs most often in mature plaques. The process of calcification is a poorly understood risk factor that may contribute to a plaque's vulnerability to sudden rupture. In this study a solid‐state imaging sequence, termed single‐point imaging (SPI), was used to observe calcification directly in ex vivo atherosclerotic plaques. Standards were used to validate the ability of 31 P SPI to detect and differentiate calcification from crystalline cholesterol, phospholipids, and other plaque components. After suitable experimental parameters were found, human carotid specimens obtained by endarterectomy were imaged ex vivo by 31 P solid‐state imaging and standard 1 H methods. In contrast to 1 H imaging methods, 31 P imaging detected only the calcification in the plaque. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.