Fig 2.

Histologic sections (Van Gieson elastic stain) of 2 different samples from the CoW specimens classified as fibrous plaques: (A) right middle cerebral artery and (B) left intracranial internal carotid artery (arrowhead indicates fibrous tissue). The corresponding T1-weighted image (DESPOT1 acquired with a flip angle of 44°) and the calculated parametric maps (T1, T2, T2*, and PD) are shown. ROIs were drawn at the location of tissue components identified in the histologic section (blue ROI indicates fibrous tissue; green + red ROI, vessel wall) to calculate the mean T1, T2, T2*, and PD values for these regions. Here, fibrous tissue can be distinguished from the vessel wall in the T1 and T2 maps (partly) and, to a lesser extent, in the T2* map.