Fig. 3

Representative MR images of a T2DM and a non-T2DM subject. a An atherosclerotic plaque with small LRNC (yellow outline) is detected in the right carotid artery of a non-T2DM patient: iso-intensity on T1WI and T2WI; no enhancement in T1WI+; hypo-intensity on MP-RAGE image. Cerebral DWI demonstrates a small perforating artery infarct (hyper-intensity) at right hemisphere. Brain MRA demonstrates right MCA M1 segment with mild stenosis (red arrow). b An atherosclerotic plaque with large LRNC (yellow outline) with mild to moderate stenosis is detected in the right carotid artery of a T2DM patient. LRNC appears as iso-intensity on T1WI; hypo-intensity on corresponding T2WI; no enhancement in T1WI+; hypo-intensity on MP-RAGE image. Cerebral DWI demonstrates large volume of ACI (hyperintensity) at right hemisphere. Brain MRA demonstrates right MCA M1 segment with moderate stenosis (red arrow). ACI acute cerebral infarct, LRNC lipid-rich necrotic core, WI weighted image, T1WI+ contrast enhanced T1-weighted image, MCA middle cerebral artery