title: Imaging techniques to predict cardiovascular risk.
abstract: Conventional cardiovascular imaging, with a focus on identifying flow-limiting stenoses, does not directly image the atherosclerotic lesion. Recent clinical and pathobiologic data indicate that stenosis severity does not dictate cardiovascular risk and that there are functional, structural, and biologic features of atherosclerosis that are associated with cardiovascular events. Imaging technologies, such as ultrasound, light, x-ray, magnetic resonance, and targeted contrast agents, have been developed to characterize directly the atherosclerotic vessel wall. They provide promising approaches to predict cardiovascular risk and facilitate further study of the mechanisms of atherosclerosis progression and its response to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University Medical Center, 300 Pasteur Drive, Room H-2157, Stanford, CA 94305-5233, USA. mcconnell@stanford.edu
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: McConnell
mesh_terms: D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional