Key result
High-resolution MRI and PET/CT successfully identified vulnerable plaques in a rabbit carotid atherosclerosis model, with unstable plaques on HRMRI matching hypermetabolic plaques on PET/CT.
Why the study?
The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performances of 3 routine examination methods for cerebrovascular disease in a rabbit carotid artery atherosclerosis model.
How do ultrasound, HRMRI, and PET/CT compare in diagnosing vulnerable plaques in a rabbit carotid atherosclerosis model?
How do ultrasound, HRMRI, and PET/CT compare in diagnosing vulnerable plaques in a rabbit carotid atherosclerosis model?
High-resolution MRI and PET/CT are superior to ultrasound for identifying vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in a rabbit model, supporting HRMRI use for evaluating plaque properties.
Supports combined HRMRI-PET/CT plaque imaging in animal models; leaves open human translation and clinical validation.
OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performances of 3 routine examination methods for cerebrovascular disease in a rabbit carotid artery atherosclerosis model. METHODS: A total of 12 New Zealand rabbits were included: 4 in a control group and 8 in an experimental group. A clinically relevant atherosclerosis rabbit model was induced by left common carotid artery ligation and a 12-week high-fat diet. Atherosclerosis was further confirmed by a histopathologic analysis. Then carotid ultrasound (US) imaging, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI), and positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) were performed on this model to evaluate the diagnostic performances. RESULTS: Carotid US showed plaque formation in the left common carotid artery and little plaque in the right common carotid artery in the experimental group. In addition, HRMRI showed stenosis formation in the left common carotid artery in the experimental group. At the horizontal level, plaques were found in the left common carotid artery, and no plaques were found in the right common carotid artery in the experimental group. Also, PET/CT showed local hypermetabolism and vulnerable plaques in the left common carotid artery of the experimental group, whereas no hypermetabolism was found in the right common carotid artery of the experimental group. Moreover, the soft plaques detected by carotid US were different from the vulnerable plaques detected by PET/CT. The unstable plaques on HRMRI were the same as the hypermetabolic vulnerable plaques on PET/CT. CONCLUSIONS: High-resolution MRI is recommended for the evaluation of neck and intracranial vascular stenosis and plaque properties in patients with stroke.
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Xu et al. (2020) studied carotid artery atherosclerosis (n=12). Ultrasound, High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography was evaluated on diagnostic performances for vulnerable plaque detection. High-resolution MRI and PET/CT successfully identified vulnerable plaques in a rabbit carotid atherosclerosis model, with unstable plaques on HRMRI matching hypermetabolic plaques on PET/CT.
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