Figure 3
Top Row: A coronary plaque is shown on three different ex vivo MRI images: T1 weighted (left panel), proton density weighted (middle panel) and T2 weighted (right panel) showing different signal intensities) suggestive of distinct plaque components i.e. calcification (right arrow on bottom), fibrous, thrombotic core (left arrow on bottom), and lipid core (arrow on top). Note that each plaque component shows specific signal intensity at different T1/T2 and proton density weighting. Middle Row: Delineation of wall thickness and lumen area is shown on ex vivo MRI image (left panel) and corresponding in vivo image (middle panel) and atheroma (arrow in right panel). Bottom Row: A comparison of wall thickness is shown in a normal coronary artery image (left panel) and coronary artery image with thick wall and atheroma (right panel).