Detection of Carotid Intraplaque Hemorrhage by in vivo Black Blood Imaging Using Spatial Labeling with Multiple Inversion Pulses Prepared Spoiled Gradient Recalled Sequence

Qingjun Wang¹, Yong Guo², Jianming Cai³, Minghua Huang

Black blood imaging based on Spatial LabEling with multiple invErsion pulses prepared SPoiled Gradient Recalled sequence (SLEEK-SPGR) is thought to be a potentially promising tool in imaging carotid IPH. However, so far no study has evaluated its accuracy in diagnosis of IPH by histological assessment. In this study, with the help of excised specimens from carotid endarterectomy (CEA), we evaluated the sensitivity and efficacy of SLEEK-SPGR in detecting carotid IPH. Our findings showed SLEEK-SPGR has very high sensitivity and specificity in detecting carotid IPH, and can provide a better visualization of carotid IPH than traditional 3D-TOF and QIR images.