title: Comparison of vessel geometry in bifurcation between normal and diseased segments: intravascular ultrasound analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the geometry in bifurcation using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed quantitative three-dimensional IVUS analysis of 31 true bifurcation lesions and 30 angiographically normal bifurcation segments including the main and side branches as well as parent vessel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The external elastic membrane (EEM) area changed significantly according to distance from bifurcation in the parent vessel and main branches of the lesion group while there was no significant change in the EEM area in the normal group. Vessel size of bifurcation segments obeyed the principle of minimum work (Murray's law). The cube of the mean EEM diameter of parent vessel nearly equaled the sum of the cubes of the mean EEM diameters of main and side branches (95.5 +/- 38.9 mm(3) versus 90.7 +/- 36.1 mm(3) for the lesion group and 93.4 +/- 49.6 mm(3) versus 85.3 +/- 47.3 mm(3) for the normal group). However, the deviation from the optimal relationship of lumen size was noted more frequently in bifurcation lesion than normal bifurcation segments (71% versus 43%, P=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EEM pattern may differ between bifurcation lesions and normal bifurcating segments. Although human coronary artery system obeys the principle of minimum work, the geometry may deviate from the optimal relationship in bifurcation lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joo-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Hyeon-Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Gwon
authors.forename: Sung Uk
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Seung-Hyuk
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jin-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-Pyo
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jeong Euy
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Duk Kyung
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*