NMR characteristics of different intracranial plaque tissue componentsa
| Lipid Accumulation (n = 17) | Fibrous Tissue (n = 24) | Fibrous Cap (n = 12) | Calcifications (n = 5) | Vessel Wall (n = 37) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 (ms) | 838 ± 167 | 583 ± 161 | 481 ± 98 | 314 ± 39 | 436 ± 122 |
| PDb | 0.94 ± 0.10 | 1.10 ± 0.26 | 1.13 ± 0.21 | 0.15 ± 0.03 | 1.0 ± 0 |
| T2 (ms) | 22 ± 6.8 | 18 ± 10 | 15 ± 9.2 | 9.4 ± 2.8 | 10 ± 4.4 |
| T2* (ms) | 18 ± 6.2 | 25 ± 11 | 21 ± 8.4 | 8.9 ± 3.0 | 18 ± 6.5 |
Note:—NMR indicates nuclear magnetic resonance.
↵a For each identified plaque component the mean ± SD of the mean ROI values for all parameters (T1, PD, T2, T2*) are given. Group differences between tissue components were tested with the Welch test; all maps showed a significant difference (P < .001) between tissue components.
↵b Normalized to vessel wall.