Helene Vernhet-Kovacsik MD,PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jean Michel Serfaty, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Francoise Peyrin PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gerald Gahide, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Didier Revel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Philippe Charles Douek MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Today, multi-slice angioCT imaging accurately depicts arterial stenosis in peripheral and coronary arteries. The aim of this study is to assess the potential of X-ray imaging to characterize atherosclerotic plaques.

Arterial samples from 5 atherosclerotic and one normal control human coronary artery were harvested. Samples of macroscopically identified atherosclerotic lesions were placed in plastic tubes in order to perform vitro Synchrotron X-ray imaging at 14 kev before histology. Synchrotron X-ray images were analyzed for optically assessable contrast between plaque components. Linear attenuation of volumic ROI placed into each observed plaque components was obtained. Correlation between plaque characterization at histology and Synchrotron X-ray imaging were searched for.

Plaque components were optically distinguishable on Synchrotron x-ray images and the mean attenuating values (cm-1) of the normal media (2.137±0.043), the adventia (1.042±0.015), the necrosis (1.802± 0.007), the lipid component (1.441 ±0.079), the fibrous component (1.987±0.014) and the calcified lesion (20.059±0.727) were significantly different (p<10-20).

Synchrotron X-ray imaging using both optical assessment and linear attenuation measurements demonstrates that x-ray imaging has the potential to characterize plaque components.

Future technological improvements should improve the role of CT in characterization of atherosclerotic plaques

Vernhet-Kovacsik, H, Serfaty, J, Peyrin, F, Gahide, G, Revel, D, Douek, P, Atherosclerotic Plaque Characterization Using Synchrotron X-ray Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4428374.html