title: Imaging of vulnerable plaques using near-infrared spectroscopy for risk stratification of atherosclerosis.
abstract: Although the prevalent approach in cardiology is largely "stenosis-centric," it has been long known that most acute coronary events are caused by apparently angiographically nonsignificant stenosis. This has led to a gradual paradigm shift from detection of significant stenosis to detection of lesion instability. A number of imaging modalities have been developed that help in this quest; however, none have been as promising as near-infrared spectroscopy used for detection of coronary plaque characteristics. In this article we discuss the various invasive imaging tools available to the interventional cardiologist, with special emphasis on near-infrared spectroscopy as a key emerging imaging technology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Audie L Murphy VA Hospital, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanon
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: Vani P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Sanon
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chilton
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared