Figure 4.

Optimized magnetic resonance imaging-intraplaque hemorrhage imaging with magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE): comparison of (A) standard Cartesian MPRAGE (top = coronal, bottom = axial reformat) with (B) an optimized stack of stars MPRAGE sequence (top = coronal, bottom = axial reformat) demonstrates complete suppression of flow artifact and background tissue signal. This patient has bilateral carotid intraplaque hemorrhage centered at the bifurcations. Both sequences were acquired in the same patient with neck-shape–specific coils.