Choi C Joon, Kramer Christopher M
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
Radiol Clin North Am. 2002 Jul;40(4):887-98. doi: 10.1016/s0033-8389(02)00019-2.
MRI is a powerful noninvasive imaging tool with high spatial resolution that continues to prove its value in determining atherosclerotic plaque size, volume, and tissue components. Multispectral MRI sequences have been validated to characterize atherosclerotic plaque components in animals; they have recently been applied to human aorta and carotid artery and are being used to identify the vulnerable plaque. The ability to measure wall thickness in human coronary artery wall has been realized. Future developments may allow plaque characterization in the coronary arteries with surface coil imaging, but intravascular MRI may play an important role in this regard. Novel contrast agents for identifying inflammation and thrombus within atherosclerotic plaque will aid in the identification of higher-risk atherosclerotic disease. Lastly, MRI has progressed to the point where it can be used in serial studies of atherosclerotic plaque progression and regression in the face of therapeutic intervention. MRI will continue to evolve an important role in imaging of atherosclerotic plaque.
磁共振成像（MRI）是一种强大的非侵入性成像工具，具有高空间分辨率，在确定动脉粥样硬化斑块的大小、体积和组织成分方面，其价值不断得到证明。多光谱MRI序列已在动物实验中得到验证，可用于表征动脉粥样硬化斑块成分；最近已应用于人体主动脉和颈动脉，并用于识别易损斑块。已实现测量人体冠状动脉壁厚度的能力。未来的发展可能会通过表面线圈成像实现冠状动脉斑块的表征，但血管内MRI在这方面可能会发挥重要作用。用于识别动脉粥样硬化斑块内炎症和血栓的新型造影剂将有助于识别高危动脉粥样硬化疾病。最后，MRI已经发展到可以用于面对治疗干预时动脉粥样硬化斑块进展和消退的系列研究。MRI将继续在动脉粥样硬化斑块成像中发挥重要作用。
