Nikolaou Konstantin, Becker Christoph R, Flohr Thomas, Huber Armin, Scheidler Jürgen, Fayad Zahi A, Reiser Maximilian F
Department of Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Klinikum Grosshadern, Munich, Germany.
Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2004 Aug;20(4):327-34. doi: 10.1023/b:caim.0000041936.21786.ac.
To optimize a methodology for ex vivo imaging of atherosclerotic vessel wall changes using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) and multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
In phantom studies and studies on intact ex vivo porcine and human hearts, various filling mixtures of MDCT and MRI contrast agents have been evaluated, to enable filling and distension of the coronary arteries for optimal visualization of atherosclerotic vessel wall changes with both techniques. Various proportions of methyl cellulose, iodine-containing CT contrast agent and paramagnetic MR contrast agent containing iron-oxide particles have been tested. Imaging parameters have been optimized for high resolution plaque imaging using a four detector-row CT scanner and a 1.5 T MR system.
Phantom studies and studies on ex vivo porcine and human hearts demonstrated optimal proportion of methyl cellulose and CT contrast agent to be 98% vs. 2%, and 75% vs. 25% of methyl cellulose vs. MR contrast agent, respectively. These proportions provided optimal opacification of the vessel lumen in the MDCT images with 250 Hounsfield Units, and good signal suppression within the vessel lumen in the MR images, resembling in vivo imaging techniques. After retrospective matching with histopathology, atherosclerotic lesions of the human ex vivo specimens could be identified on MRI and MDCT images.
Using an optimized mixture of methyl cellulose, MDCT and MRI contrast agents, visualization of atherosclerotic vessel wall changes is feasible, and applicable to various ex vivo models.
优化一种使用多排探测器计算机断层扫描（MDCT）和多对比磁共振成像（MRI）对动脉粥样硬化血管壁变化进行离体成像的方法。
在体模研究以及对完整的离体猪心和人心的研究中，评估了MDCT和MRI造影剂的各种填充混合物，以使冠状动脉充盈和扩张，从而用这两种技术最佳地显示动脉粥样硬化血管壁的变化。测试了甲基纤维素、含碘CT造影剂和含氧化铁颗粒的顺磁性MR造影剂的各种比例。使用四排探测器CT扫描仪和1.5T MR系统对成像参数进行了优化，以实现高分辨率斑块成像。
体模研究以及对离体猪心和人心的研究表明，甲基纤维素与CT造影剂的最佳比例分别为98%对2%，甲基纤维素与MR造影剂的最佳比例为75%对25%。这些比例在MDCT图像中使血管腔的不透明度达到250亨氏单位的最佳状态，在MR图像中使血管腔内的信号得到良好抑制，类似于体内成像技术。在与组织病理学进行回顾性匹配后，可以在MRI和MDCT图像上识别出人类离体标本的动脉粥样硬化病变。
使用甲基纤维素、MDCT和MRI造影剂的优化混合物，对动脉粥样硬化血管壁变化进行可视化是可行的，并且适用于各种离体模型。
