Magnetic resonance imaging of atherosclerotic plaque

Recent advances in terms of spatial and temporal resolution have enabled magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to be used to display atherosclerotic plaque. MRI permits not only to detect atherosclerotic lesions but also enables determination of plaque volume and plaque characterization. It allows to display different plaque components such as lipid core, fibrous cap,calcium, and thrombus. To improve the spatial resolution, different invasive approaches based on intravascular coils have been evaluated. Novel contrast agent developments aim at the detection of inflammatory plaque activity in order to identify lesions with a high vascular risk (vulnerable plaque).