Voxel Based Calcification Fraction Quantification in Atherosclerotic Plaques Using Serial UTE

Jinnan Wang¹, Niranjan Balu², Thomas S. Hatsukami², Chun Yuan², Peter Brnert³

Although MR has been shown to provide accurate and reliable atherosclerotic plaque components identification, the detection of high risk components is usually compromised when they coexist with calcification. Speckled calcification, which presents in over 35% of advanced plaques, usually coexists with high-risk plaque components at an arbitrary fraction. As a result, the MR signal from high risk components is masked by reduced signal from speckled calcification. In an aim to potentially correct for this signal drop caused by speckled calcification, a serial UTE based approach is proposed to accurately quantify the calcification fraction on a voxel level.