<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Various cardiovascular imaging techniques were developed for the detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, hoping to be able to predict a cardiovascular event. Plaque vulnerability results from compound pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to structural and morphological changes in lesions. The aim of this review is to present the most recent techniques for the assessment of vulnerable coronary plaques such as cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA), optical coherence tomography, or virtual histology intravascular ultra-sound, based on literature data from the last 3 years. CCTA permits direct visualization of the intravascular lumen, together with characterization of the arterial wall. Recent studies maintain that low-attenuation plaques, spotty calcifications, positive vessel remodeling, and the napkin-ring sign are considered main markers of plaque vulnerability and instability. Emerging analytical techniques, such as machine learning or radiomics, will probably demonstrate useful as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for vulnerable plaque detection. The data from the two imaging techniques together provide useful information, especially in patients undergoing a PCI procedure for an acute coronary syndrome. Invasive and noninvasive imaging techniques are able to deliver a large amount of scientific data to assess vulnerable coronary atheromatous plaques. Recent studies demonstrated that information defined by the two techniques is complementary, and using both methods is essential for adequate diagnosis, therapeutic strategy, and prognostic assessment.</p>
</abstract>

Various cardiovascular imaging techniques were developed for the detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, hoping to be able to predict a cardiovascular event. Plaque vulnerability results from compound pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to structural and morphological changes in lesions. The aim of this review is to present the most recent techniques for the assessment of vulnerable coronary plaques such as cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA), optical coherence tomography, or virtual histology intravascular ultra-sound, based on literature data from the last 3 years. CCTA permits direct visualization of the intravascular lumen, together with characterization of the arterial wall. Recent studies maintain that low-attenuation plaques, spotty calcifications, positive vessel remodeling, and the napkin-ring sign are considered main markers of plaque vulnerability and instability. Emerging analytical techniques, such as machine learning or radiomics, will probably demonstrate useful as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for vulnerable plaque detection. The data from the two imaging techniques together provide useful information, especially in patients undergoing a PCI procedure for an acute coronary syndrome. Invasive and noninvasive imaging techniques are able to deliver a large amount of scientific data to assess vulnerable coronary atheromatous plaques. Recent studies demonstrated that information defined by the two techniques is complementary, and using both methods is essential for adequate diagnosis, therapeutic strategy, and prognostic assessment.

Cardiovascular Imaging Techniques for Detection of Vulnerable Plaques

Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Cardiovascular Imaging Techniques for Detection of Vulnerable Plaques"}

Various cardiovascular imaging techniques were developed for the detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, hoping to be able to predict a cardiovascular...

Cardiovascular Imaging Techniques for Detection of Vulnerable Plaques

Publié en ligne: 17 mars 2021

Pages: 21 - 26

Reçu: 28 sept. 2020

Accepté: 26 déc. 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jim-2021-0008

Mots clés
vulnerable plaque, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac computed tomography angiography, optical coherence tomography, virtual histology intravascular ultrasound

© 2021 Emese Márton et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Cardiovascular Imaging Techniques for Detection of Vulnerable Plaques

Publié en ligne: 17 mars 2021

Pages: 21 - 26

Reçu: 28 sept. 2020

Accepté: 26 déc. 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jim-2021-0008

Mots clésvulnerable plaque, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac computed tomography angiography, optical coherence tomography, virtual histology intravascular ultrasound

© 2021 Emese Márton et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
vulnerable plaque, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac computed tomography angiography, optical coherence tomography, virtual histology intravascular ultrasound