Non-invasive visualization of coronary atherosclerosis: state-of-art.
Coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of death in the Western world. Non-invasive coronary artery imaging challenges any diagnostic modality because the coronary arteries are small and tortuous, whereas cardiac contraction and respiration cause motion artifacts. Therefore, non-invasive coronary imaging requires high spatial and temporal resolution. This review discusses the feasible applications in coronary imaging of magnetic resonance imaging and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT), which are currently the only non-invasive diagnostic modalities for direct coronary atherosclerosis imaging. Particular attention and focus is devoted to the potential indications and clinical impact of MSCT due to its fast development and the robust results recently reported. MSCT of the coronary arteries is a promising imaging modality for the assessment of the coronary lumen and wall.
Cademartiri
Filippo
F
Department of Radiology and Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. filippocademartiri@hotmail.com
La Grutta
Ludovico
L
Palumbo
Alessandro
A
Malagutti
Patrizia
P
Pugliese
Francesca
F
Meijboom
W Bob
WB
Baks
Timo
T
Mollet
Nico R
NR
Bruining
Nico
N
Hamers
Ronald
R
de Feyter
Pim J
PJ
D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods