Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death in the United States. More than 70% of these deaths are atherosclerosis-related. According to 2002 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update from American Heart Association, more than 2,600 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of 1 death every 33 seconds. Atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease is the third leading cause of disability among adults.
High resolution MRI techniques with multiple contrast weightings have been shown to be useful for atherosclerotic tissue characterization and for plaque area measurement which is known to represent a direct measure of plaque burden.
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| Multi-contrast weighting MR images of carotid plaque with T1W, PDW, T2W and TOF, arrows indicate the plaque in left common carotid artery. |
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