HIGH FIELD MR CAROTID VESSEL WALL IMAGING: REPRODUCIBILITY OF FIVE DIFFERENT MR WEIGHTINGS

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has emerged as a promising noninvasive imaging modality for the serial assessment of vessel wall thickness in the carotid artery as an early marker of atherosclerosis. For clinical application of this technique, Scan-Rescan reproducibility is paramount. Currently, a multicontrast protocol, including a combination of MR-weightings is used as reference standard for quantitative and morphologic measurements.