Gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging provided approximately twice the signal-to-noise ratio compared to T2-weighted images for discriminating fibrous cap from lipid core (36.6 vs 17.5; P<.001).
Observational (n=9)
Absolute Event Rate: 36.6% vs 17.5%
p-value: p=<.001
In nine subjects with carotid atherosclerosis, double-oblique, contrast material-enhanced, double inversion-recovery, fast spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired through atheroma in the proximal internal carotid artery. Fibrocellular tissue within atheroma selectively enhanced 29% after administration of gadolinium-based contrast agent. Contrast enhancement helped discriminate fibrous cap from lipid core with a contrast-to-noise ratio as good as or better than that with T2-weighted MR images but with approximately twice the signal-to-noise ratio (postcontrast images, 36.6 +/- 3.6; T2-weighted images, 17.5 +/- 2.1; P <.001).
Wasserman et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Carotid atherosclerosis (n=9). Gadolinium-enhanced double-oblique MR imaging vs. T2-weighted MR images was evaluated on Signal-to-noise ratio for discriminating fibrous cap from lipid core (p=<.001). Gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging provided approximately twice the signal-to-noise ratio compared to T2-weighted images for discriminating fibrous cap from lipid core (36.6 vs 17.5; P<.001).