Application of Magnetic Resonance Plaque Imaging Using Inversion-Recovery and Fat-Suppressed Three-Dimensional Steady-State Free Precession to Iliac Artery Stenosis

Abstract

A 61-year-old Japanese man with right common iliac artery stenosis underwent magnetic resonance plaque imaging for an evaluation of the nature of the stenosis that used inversion-recovery and fat-suppressed threedimensional steady-state free precession (IR-SSFP) and T1-weighted black blood imaging. The stenosis was depicted as diffuse high signal intensity on the IR-SSFP, and the deep layer was depicted as high signal intensity on the T1-weighted black blood image, suggesting a lipid-rich necrotic core in the shallow layer and intraplaque hemorrhage in the deep layer. After an evaluation by intravascular endoscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT), stent placement was performed under balloon protection. Yellowish plaque was aspirated from a balloon guiding catheter, and a histopathological examination confirmed cholesterol crystals and a thrombus.