Comparison of Noninvasive Assessment of Atherosclerotic Plaques
| Parameter | MRI | Multicontrast MRI | Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MRI | USPIO-MRI | 18F-FDG PET/CT | Multidetector CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vascular bed | Carotid | Carotid | Carotid | Carotid | Carotid | Coronary |
| Aorta | Aorta | Aorta | Peripheral | Aorta | Carotid | |
| Peripheral | Peripheral | Peripheral | Aorta | Peripheral | Aorta | |
| Coronary? | Peripheral | |||||
| Plaque features | Burden | Composition: lipid-rich/necrotic core (%LR/NC) | Activity/perfusion: Inflammation Neovessels | Activity: Inflammation | Activity: Glucose Inflammation | Burden (characterization?) |
| Variability (interstudy) | 5%−10% | 10% | 15% | Not applicable | 5%−7% | >20% |
| Medication modulation | 3, 6*, 12 mo | Statins at 18 mo | Not applicable | Statins at 3 mo | Statins at 3 mo | Not applicable |
↵* Niacin + statins.
LR = lipid-rich; NC = necrotic.