Thomas Wehrum1, Iulius Dragonu2, Christoph Strecker3, Jürgen Hennig4, Andreas Harloff3. 1. Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: thomas.wehrum@uniklinik-freiburg.de. 2. Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Radiology - MR Physics, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany. 3. Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany. 4. Department of Radiology - MR Physics, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To develop a 3D-multi-contrast MRI protocol allowing for high resolution imaging of the wall and of atheroma in the thoracic aorta. METHODS: Eleven healthy volunteers and eleven acute stroke patients with aortic plaques detected by TEE underwent MRI at 3T. The MRI-protocol consisted of a T1w-bright-blood, a T2w- and a PDw-black-blood sequence (spatial resolution=1.15mm3). Image quality was assessed by two blinded investigators using a 3-point score and intra- and inter-rater agreement was tested. In patients, atherosclerotic plaques were graded according to the modified American Heart Association (AHA) classification. RESULTS: Total examination time was 35:42±7:48min in volunteers and 41:07±3:15min in patients. Image quality was graded with the highest score in 80-94% of T1w, 89-96% of T2w and 79-86% of PDw datasets. Intra- and inter-rater reliability regarding image quality grading was high. Five stroke patients showed AHA type III lesions, three had AHA type VII and two had type VIII plaques. One patient had a vulnerable appearing AHA VI plaque. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-multi-contrast MR-imaging of the aorta was performed with high image quality and in reasonable time. It allows evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque composition throughout the aortic arch and can be used to identify vulnerable plaques in acute stroke patients.
OBJECTIVES: To develop a 3D-multi-contrast MRI protocol allowing for high resolution imaging of the wall and of atheroma in the thoracic aorta. METHODS: Eleven healthy volunteers and eleven acute strokepatients with aortic plaques detected by TEE underwent MRI at 3T. The MRI-protocol consisted of a T1w-bright-blood, a T2w- and a PDw-black-blood sequence (spatial resolution=1.15mm3). Image quality was assessed by two blinded investigators using a 3-point score and intra- and inter-rater agreement was tested. In patients, atherosclerotic plaques were graded according to the modified American Heart Association (AHA) classification. RESULTS: Total examination time was 35:42±7:48min in volunteers and 41:07±3:15min in patients. Image quality was graded with the highest score in 80-94% of T1w, 89-96% of T2w and 79-86% of PDw datasets. Intra- and inter-rater reliability regarding image quality grading was high. Five strokepatients showed AHA type III lesions, three had AHA type VII and two had type VIII plaques. One patient had a vulnerable appearing AHA VI plaque. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-multi-contrast MR-imaging of the aorta was performed with high image quality and in reasonable time. It allows evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque composition throughout the aortic arch and can be used to identify vulnerable plaques in acute strokepatients.
Authors: Thomas Wehrum; Felix Günther; Miriam Kams; Sarah Wendel; Christoph Strecker; Hanieh Mirzaee; Andreas Harloff Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2018-05-24 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Zhehao Hu; Anthony G Christodoulou; Nan Wang; Jaime L Shaw; Shlee S Song; Marcel M Maya; Mariko L Ishimori; Lindsy J Forbess; Jiayu Xiao; Xiaoming Bi; Fei Han; Debiao Li; Zhaoyang Fan Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2020-04-16 Impact factor: 4.668
Authors: Thomas Wehrum; Iulius Dragonu; Christoph Strecker; Florian Schuchardt; Anja Hennemuth; Johann Drexl; Thomas Reinhard; Daniel Böhringer; Werner Vach; Jürgen Hennig; Andreas Harloff Journal: J Cardiovasc Magn Reson Date: 2017-09-06 Impact factor: 5.364
Authors: Yu Sakai; Vance T Lehman; Laura B Eisenmenger; Emmanuel C Obusez; G Abbas Kharal; Jiayu Xiao; Grace J Wang; Zhaoyang Fan; Brett L Cucchiara; Jae W Song Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-07-28 Impact factor: 4.086