Yuki Shinohara1, Makoto Sakamoto2, Keita Kuya3, Junichi Kishimoto4, Eijiro Yamashita4, Shinya Fujii3, Masamichi Kurosaki2, Toshihide Ogawa3. 1. Division of Radiology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan. Electronic address: shino-y@olive.plala.or.jp. 2. Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan. 3. Division of Radiology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan. 4. Division of Clinical Radiology, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The present study compared the applicability of computed tomography carotid plaque imaging using effective Z maps with gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) to that of magnetic resonance plaque imaging using 3-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography. METHODS: Stenosis was assessed in 18 carotid arteries of 14 patients, and the effective Z values of noncalcified carotid plaques were compared with the signal intensities of magnetic resonance angiography. RESULTS: It was found that the effective Z value of noncalcified carotid plaques was significantly lower for a group with high signal intensity than for a group with low signal intensity on magnetic resonance angiography (P <.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of effective Z values was .975, and the presumed cutoff effective Z value required to discriminate low and high intensity plaques on magnetic resonance angiography was 7.83. CONCLUSIONS: The effective Z value generated by GSI is a useful parameter to detect vulnerable carotid plaque materials.
BACKGROUND: The present study compared the applicability of computed tomography carotid plaque imaging using effective Z maps with gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) to that of magnetic resonance plaque imaging using 3-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography. METHODS: Stenosis was assessed in 18 carotid arteries of 14 patients, and the effective Z values of noncalcified carotid plaques were compared with the signal intensities of magnetic resonance angiography. RESULTS: It was found that the effective Z value of noncalcified carotid plaques was significantly lower for a group with high signal intensity than for a group with low signal intensity on magnetic resonance angiography (P <.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of effective Z values was .975, and the presumed cutoff effective Z value required to discriminate low and high intensity plaques on magnetic resonance angiography was 7.83. CONCLUSIONS: The effective Z value generated by GSI is a useful parameter to detect vulnerable carotid plaque materials.