Optimization of T sub(1)-weighted Imaging Parameters in MR Carotid Plaque Imaging: Influence for the Quantitative Evaluation among Different MRI Scanner Types

Carotid artery plaques with high-signal intensity on T sub(1) weighted image (T sub(1) WI) are known to cause cerebral ischemic disease. Signal intensity ratio (SIR), which is calculated from T sub(1) WI in the quantitative evaluation of plaque characterization have been used. However, the various sequences in T sub(1) WI and difference in the sequences were utilized among institutions. Therefore, difference in sequence may influence SIR. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optimization of T sub(1) WI sequence in MR carotid plaque imaging. We directly compared four kinds of T sub(1) WI imaging techniques, including inversion recovery (IR)-3 dimensional (3D) gradient echo (GRE), 3D fast spin echo (FSE), 2 dimensional (2D) FSE, 2D spin echo (SE), among different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. As a result, the 2D SE method had the smallest difference in SIR. Even if 2D SE T sub(1) WI uses a different MRI device, equal SIR is provided. Therefore, 2D SE is appropriate to evaluate the characteristics of carotid plaque.