In vivo positive contrast IRON sequence and quantitative T(2)* measurement confirms inflammatory burden in a patient with asymptomatic carotid atheroma after USPIO-enhanced MR imaging.
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| Abstract |
The authors report an in vivo human examination of carotid atheroma by using the inversion-recovery ON resonance (IRON) sequence, which is able to produce positive contrast after the infusion of an ultrasmall super paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) contrast medium. This technique provides a method of potentially identifying inflammatory burden within carotid atheroma. This may be particularly useful in patients who currently do not meet criteria for intervention (ie, moderate symptomatic stenosis or <70% asymptomatic stenosis) to further risk-stratify this important patient cohort. A 63-year-old man was imaged at 1.5 T before and 36 hours after USPIO infusion by using the IRON sequence. Regions of interest showing profound signal loss at T(2)*-weighted imaging corresponded well with regions of positive contrast at IRON imaging after the administration of USPIO. These regions also showed a profound decrease in T(2)* measurements after USPIO infusion, whereas surrounding tissue did not. It has been shown that such strong signal loss on T(2)*-weighted images after USPIO infusion is indicative of USPIO uptake.
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| Authors | Simon P S Howarth, Zhi-Yong Li, Tjun Y Tang, Martin J Graves, Jean M U-King-Im, Jonathan H Gillard |
| Journal | Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR (J Vasc Interv Radiol) Vol. 19 Issue 3 Pg. 446-8 (Mar 2008) ISSN: 1051-0443 [Print] United States |
| PMID | 18295707 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article) |
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