Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) in the Rabbit Model of Atherosclerosis: Characterization and Quantification of Water Diffusion in Six-Month Old Aortic Plaque

Philip M. Robson¹, ², Claudia Calcagno¹, ², Sarayu Ramachandran¹, ², Venkatesh Mani¹, ², Zahi A. Fayad¹, ²

We investigate in vivo diffusion weighted imaging in the rabbit model of atherosclerosis at 3 T using SE-DW single-shot EPI, with 12 different b-values equally spaced up to 600 s/mm2, and 16 slices in a 20-minute protocol. The average diffusion coefficient was 1.19x10-3 mm2/s and the average two-tailed span of the 90% confidence interval for the diffusion coefficient was 0.3x10-3 mm2/s, which is sufficient to distinguish normal vessel wall, lipid core, and free water. DWI is a feasible technique for quantitative characterization of atherosclerotic plaque in the NZW rabbit model in vivo and may provide important information about high-risk plaques.