title: Imaging the vulnerable plaque.
abstract: Cardiovascular diseases are still the primary causes of mortality in the United States and in Western Europe. Arterial thrombosis is triggered by a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque and precipitates an acute vascular event, which is responsible for the high mortality rate. These rupture-prone plaques are called "vulnerable plaques." During the past decades, much effort has been put toward accurately detecting the presence of vulnerable plaques with different imaging techniques. In this review, we provide an overview of the currently available invasive and noninvasive imaging modalities used to detect vulnerable plaques. We will discuss the upcoming challenges in translating these techniques into clinical practice and in assigning them their exact place in the decision-making process.
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche Cardiovasculaire, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Cliniques, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vancraeynest
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pasquet
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roelants
authors.forename: Bernhard L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Jean-Louis J
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vanoverschelde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods