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Intravascular MRI

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Abstract

In patients with vascular disease, acute coronary syndromes and ischemic strokes develop suddenly and often unpredictably. In most patients, these clinical scenarios result from arterial thrombosis from one of three mechanisms: plaque rupture, plaque erosion, or calcified nodule. A number of diagnostic modalities have been used in the evaluation of these unstable, high-risk lesions that predispose to arterial thrombosis. Noninvasive MRI allows three-dimensional imaging with evaluation of vascular structures and depiction of components of atherosclerotic plaque. However, noninvasive MRI is limited in the evaluation of arteries of smaller caliber and deeper location, such as coronary, iliac, and renal arteries. To overcome these inherent limitations of noninvasive MRI, invasive approaches have been developed that include intravascular coils for lesion assessment and characterization, and a novel intravascular MRI catheter within which the magnets, radiofrequency transmitters, and receivers are miniaturized. This self-contained MRI catheter holds promise in the in vivo assessment of lipid-rich, potentially vulnerable plaques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida Heart Institute, 6833 Medical View Lane, Zephyrhills, FL, 33542, USA

    Ghazanfar Khadim

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  1. Ghazanfar Khadim
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  2. Aravinda Nanjundappa
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  3. Robert S. Dieter
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Correspondence to Ghazanfar Khadim.

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Khadim, G., Nanjundappa, A. & Dieter, R.S. Intravascular MRI. curr cardiovasc imaging rep 2, 293–299 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-009-0034-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-009-0034-5

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