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Comparison of carotid vessel wall area measurements using three different contrast-weighted black blood MR imaging
S Zhang1, T S Hatsukami, N L Polissar
1Department of Radiology, Cardiovascular Institute and Fu Wai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College 100037, Beijing, China. zhangsx@u.washington.edu
Abstract:
Measuring carotid artery plaque burden from MRI is a reliable method for monitoring regression and progression of atherosclerosis. However, to measure all available images would be very time consuming, and in practice the image quality (IQ) of these images may be inconsistent, which can directly impact the quality of measurement. It is hypothesized that if IQ is comparable among different contrast weighted images, then carotid artery area measurements obtained from different contrast images of the same location will produce identical results. To test this, T1, proton density and T2 weighted images were acquired from ten patients (51 +/- 7 years old). Carotid lumen and vessel wall area was measured using a custom designed software program. The results showed strong agreement evidenced with only small differences on both lumen (mean: 40.5 mm(2)) and wall (mean: 52.6 mm(2)) area measurement among different weighted images. The maximum absolute mean differences are less than 2.7 mm(2) and 4.4 mm(2), and 90(th) percentile of the absolute differences are 5.6 mm(2) and 8.2 mm(2) respectively. In conclusion, different contrast weighted images with high and comparable IQ will yield similar results in lumen and vessel wall area measurement. At each matched location, it is recommended that the image with the highest IQ be used for area measurement.
Insights
Carotid artery plaque burden measurement using MRI is reliable. High-quality, comparable images across different MRI contrasts yield similar results for lumen and vessel wall area measurements.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Medical Physics
- Radiology
Background:
- Carotid artery plaque burden measurement via MRI aids atherosclerosis monitoring.
- Inconsistent image quality (IQ) can compromise measurement accuracy.
- Variability in IQ across different contrast-weighted images poses a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if carotid artery area measurements are consistent across different contrast-weighted MRI images.
- To determine the impact of comparable image quality on measurement reliability.
- To validate the hypothesis that similar IQ yields identical results.
Main Methods:
- Acquired T1, proton density, and T2 weighted MRI scans from ten patients.
- Utilized custom software for measuring carotid lumen and vessel wall areas.
- Analyzed agreement between measurements from different contrast-weighted images.
Main Results:
- Strong agreement observed in lumen and vessel wall area measurements across different weighted images.
- Mean differences were small (lumen: 40.5 mm², wall: 52.6 mm²).
- Maximum absolute mean differences were <2.7 mm² (lumen) and <4.4 mm² (wall).
Conclusions:
- Different contrast-weighted MRI images with high and comparable IQ produce similar lumen and vessel wall area measurements.
- Selecting the highest IQ image at matched locations is recommended for accurate area measurement.
- This finding supports the reliability of carotid plaque burden assessment using MRI.