Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine if hemorrhage into an arterial wall can be detected in CT images by virtue of the iron content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aortas from male apoE/LDL mice (n = 31) were infused in situ with contrast agent, for micro-CT scanning and histology. Roentgen-opacities within the aortic walls were identified by histology and micro-x-ray fluorescence to be iron or calcium. Dual-energy scanning was performed at 2 energy levels using synchrotron-based micro-CT [(2 μm) voxels, 16 and 20 keV] and 64-slice CT (0.4 × 0.4 × 0.6 mm voxels, 80 and 120 kVp). RESULTS: Opacities were identified as hemorrhage-related clusters of multiple punctate deposits, containing both Fe (0.48 × 10 g/voxel) and Ca (3.18 × 10 g/voxel), or as isolated confluent accumulations of exclusively calcium. Subtraction of the dual-energy CT scans discriminated iron from calcium deposits. CONCLUSION: Detection and quantification of iron deposits in hemorrhaged atherosclerotic lesions is feasible by dual-energy CT imaging.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 263-273 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Investigative radiology |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2007 |
Keywords
- Atherosclerosis
- Hemorrhage
- Imaging
- Iron
- Micro-CT
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging