title: Contrast for vascular imaging.
abstract: This article discusses the use of standard contrast agents that, when coupled with high-resolution carotid ultrasound, offers the dramatic potential to improve measurement of intimal medial thickness, better defining luminal endothelial surface, improving the determination of plaque ulceration, and offering the dramatic capabilities to visualize directly neovasculature growth of the vasa vasorum. The technique may identify vulnerable plaques and may also show their alterations with therapeutic pharmacologic interventions. In the coronary circulation, use of contrast significantly enhances the ability to image the epicardial coronary arteries to obtain data on coronary flow reserve for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Healthcare, 1364 Clifton Road, N.E., D-433, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. randy_martin@emory.org
authors.forename: Randolph P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Stamatios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lerakis
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media