Magnetic resonance imaging of atherosclerosis: classical and molecular imaging

Despite advances in both treatment and prevention, complications of atherosclerotic disease remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western World. While atherosclerosis may slowly progress over years or decades, the occurrence of thrombosis as a consequence of sudden plaque rupture often leads to abrupt life threatening complications. Such acute events may explain why a large percentage (∼ 50%=250,000 in the US/year) of people dying from coronary artery disease die suddenly without manifestation of typical symptoms [2].