Abstract
Objective: To distinguish components of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque by imaging their energy response using spectral CT and comparing images with histology. Methods: After spectroscopic calibration using phantoms of plaque surrogates, excised human carotid atherosclerotic plaques were imaged using MARS CT using a photonprocessing detector with a silicon sensor layer and microfocus X-ray tube (50 kVp, 0.5 mA) at 38-μm voxel size. The plaques were imaged, sectioned and re-imaged using four threshold energies: 10, 16, 22 and 28 keV; then sequentially stained with modified Von Kossa, Perl's Prussian blue and Oil-Red O, and photographed. Relative Hounsfield units across the energies were entered into a linear algebraic material decomposition model to identify the unknown plaque components. Results: Lipid, calcium, iron and water-like components of plaque have distinguishable energy responses to Xray, visible on spectral CT images. CT images of the plaque surface correlated very well with histological photographs. Calcium deposits (>1,000 μm) in plaque are larger than iron deposits (<100 μm), but could not be distinguished from each other within the same voxel using the energy range available. Conclusions: Spectral CT displays energy information in image form at high spatial resolution, enhancing the intrinsic contrast of lipid, calcium and iron within atheroma. Key Points: • Spectral computed tomography offers new insights into tissue characterisation. • Components of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque are spectrally distinct with intrinsic contrast. • Spectral CT of excised atherosclerotic plaques can display iron, calcium and lipid. • Calcium deposits are larger than iron deposits in atheroma. • Spectral CT may help in the non-invasive detection of vulnerable plaques.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2581-2588 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | European Radiology |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Atherosclerotic
- Carotid artery diseases
- MARS-CT
- Plaque
- Spectral CT
- X-Ray microtomography
Cite this
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Spectral CT of carotid atherosclerotic plaque : Comparison with histology. / Zainon, R.; Ronaldson, J. P.; Janmale, T.; Scott, N. J.; Buckenham, T. M.; Butler, A. P.H.; Butler, P. H.; Doesburg, R. M.; Gieseg, S. P.; Roake, J. A.; Anderson, N. G.
In: European Radiology, Vol. 22, No. 12, 12.2012, p. 2581-2588.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Spectral CT of carotid atherosclerotic plaque
T2 - Comparison with histology
AU - Zainon, R.
AU - Ronaldson, J. P.
AU - Janmale, T.
AU - Scott, N. J.
AU - Buckenham, T. M.
AU - Butler, A. P.H.
AU - Butler, P. H.
AU - Doesburg, R. M.
AU - Gieseg, S. P.
AU - Roake, J. A.
AU - Anderson, N. G.
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Objective: To distinguish components of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque by imaging their energy response using spectral CT and comparing images with histology. Methods: After spectroscopic calibration using phantoms of plaque surrogates, excised human carotid atherosclerotic plaques were imaged using MARS CT using a photonprocessing detector with a silicon sensor layer and microfocus X-ray tube (50 kVp, 0.5 mA) at 38-μm voxel size. The plaques were imaged, sectioned and re-imaged using four threshold energies: 10, 16, 22 and 28 keV; then sequentially stained with modified Von Kossa, Perl's Prussian blue and Oil-Red O, and photographed. Relative Hounsfield units across the energies were entered into a linear algebraic material decomposition model to identify the unknown plaque components. Results: Lipid, calcium, iron and water-like components of plaque have distinguishable energy responses to Xray, visible on spectral CT images. CT images of the plaque surface correlated very well with histological photographs. Calcium deposits (>1,000 μm) in plaque are larger than iron deposits (<100 μm), but could not be distinguished from each other within the same voxel using the energy range available. Conclusions: Spectral CT displays energy information in image form at high spatial resolution, enhancing the intrinsic contrast of lipid, calcium and iron within atheroma. Key Points: • Spectral computed tomography offers new insights into tissue characterisation. • Components of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque are spectrally distinct with intrinsic contrast. • Spectral CT of excised atherosclerotic plaques can display iron, calcium and lipid. • Calcium deposits are larger than iron deposits in atheroma. • Spectral CT may help in the non-invasive detection of vulnerable plaques.
AB - Objective: To distinguish components of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque by imaging their energy response using spectral CT and comparing images with histology. Methods: After spectroscopic calibration using phantoms of plaque surrogates, excised human carotid atherosclerotic plaques were imaged using MARS CT using a photonprocessing detector with a silicon sensor layer and microfocus X-ray tube (50 kVp, 0.5 mA) at 38-μm voxel size. The plaques were imaged, sectioned and re-imaged using four threshold energies: 10, 16, 22 and 28 keV; then sequentially stained with modified Von Kossa, Perl's Prussian blue and Oil-Red O, and photographed. Relative Hounsfield units across the energies were entered into a linear algebraic material decomposition model to identify the unknown plaque components. Results: Lipid, calcium, iron and water-like components of plaque have distinguishable energy responses to Xray, visible on spectral CT images. CT images of the plaque surface correlated very well with histological photographs. Calcium deposits (>1,000 μm) in plaque are larger than iron deposits (<100 μm), but could not be distinguished from each other within the same voxel using the energy range available. Conclusions: Spectral CT displays energy information in image form at high spatial resolution, enhancing the intrinsic contrast of lipid, calcium and iron within atheroma. Key Points: • Spectral computed tomography offers new insights into tissue characterisation. • Components of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque are spectrally distinct with intrinsic contrast. • Spectral CT of excised atherosclerotic plaques can display iron, calcium and lipid. • Calcium deposits are larger than iron deposits in atheroma. • Spectral CT may help in the non-invasive detection of vulnerable plaques.
KW - Atherosclerotic
KW - Carotid artery diseases
KW - MARS-CT
KW - Plaque
KW - Spectral CT
KW - X-Ray microtomography
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870326664&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00330-012-2538-7
DO - 10.1007/s00330-012-2538-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84870326664
VL - 22
SP - 2581
EP - 2588
JO - European Radiology
JF - European Radiology
SN - 0938-7994
IS - 12
ER -