Quantitative three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound.
Three-dimensional (3-D) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) allows for the visualization of entire coronary segments, provides more detailed insights into the geometry of atherosclerotic plaques and facilitates serial studies. Automated quantitative 3-D IVUS methods reduce the analysis time and the subjectivity of boundary tracing, and permit complex IVUS studies. The 3-D IVUS approach is not restricted to research applications, but may be used as a valuable clinical tool. Evaluation of the coronary segment of interest before catheter-based coronary interventions provides information which may facilitate the selection of interventional devices. Moreover, 3-D IVUS allows for a careful assessment of the procedural results and potential post-procedural complications. ECG-gated image acquisition, automated contour detection, and approaches using data of both 3-D IVUS and biplane angiography represent the recent progress in this field. Three-dimensional IVUS will surely gain further importance and become a routine technique, if the interest and research effort is sustained.
von Birgelen
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Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, The Netherlands.
Li
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Bom
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Serruys
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D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015607:Stents; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*