Virtual histology intravascular ultrasound in carotid interventions.
OBJECTIVE
To report early clinical experience with virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH IVUS) in carotid endoluminal repair.


METHODS
A 2.9-F, 20-MHz catheter that utilizes computer software to demonstrate the histological components of arteriosclerotic plaque was evaluated during carotid angioplasty and stenting. VH IVUS images were created following a pullback through the carotid stenosis and produced a color-coded map of the different histological constituents of the disease (dark green: fibrous, yellow/green: fibrofatty, white: calcified, and red: necrotic lipid core plaque).


CONCLUSIONS
VH IVUS produces a color-coded map of the different histological components of artery plaque. It has the potential to predict how the plaque is likely to behave at the moment of endoluminal treatment.
Irshad
Khalid
K
Wishaw Hospital, Wishaw, Scotland, UK.
Millar
Samuel
S
Velu
Raj
R
Reid
Allan W
AW
Diethrich
Edward B
EB
Reid
Donald B
DB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017130:Angioplasty; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003196:Computer Graphics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012984:Software; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014584:User-Computer Interface