Noninvasive visualization of atherosclerotic plaque with electron beam and multislice spiral computed tomography.
As an alternative to intracoronary modalities, electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) and multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) are able to noninvasively image the coronary arteries. In addition to stenosis detection by imaging the vessel lumen, MSCT has the ability to visualize the coronary artery wall. By using computed tomography (CT), the various components of atherosclerotic plaque may be distinguished and characterized, which holds the promise of, eventually, identifying vulnerable plaque.
Nieman
Koen
K
Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Thoraxcenter Bd 410, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. koennieman@hotmail.com
van der Lugt
Aad
A
Pattynama
Peter Mt
PM
de Feyter
Pim J
PJ
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D002118:Calcium