Effect of Time Elapsed since Gadolinium Administration on Atherosclerotic Plaque Enhancement in Clinical Vessel Wall MR Imaging Studies

SUMMARY: Vessel wall MR imaging is a useful tool for the evaluation of intracranial atherosclerotic disease. Enhancement can be particularly instructive. This study investigated the impact of the duration between contrast administration and image acquisition. The cohort with the longest duration had the greatest increase in signal intensity change. When using vessel wall MR imaging to assess intracranial atherosclerotic disease, protocols should be designed to maximize the duration between contrast administration and image acquisition to best demonstrate enhancement.