title: Hybrid intravascular imaging: current applications and prospective potential in the study of coronary atherosclerosis.
abstract: The miniaturization of medical devices and the progress in image processing have allowed the development of a multitude of intravascular imaging modalities that permit more meticulous examination of coronary pathology. However, these techniques have significant inherent limitations that do not allow a complete and thorough assessment of coronary anatomy. To overcome these drawbacks, fusion of different invasive and noninvasive imaging modalities has been proposed. This integration has provided models that give a more detailed understanding of coronary artery pathology and have proved useful in the study of the atherosclerotic process. In this review, the authors describe the currently available hybrid imaging approaches, discuss the technological innovations and efficient algorithms that have been developed to integrate information provided by different invasive techniques, and stress the advantages of the obtained models and their potential in the study of coronary atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Christos V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Bourantas
authors.forename: Hector M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Garcia-Garcia
authors.forename: Katerina K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Naka
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakellarios
authors.forename: Lambros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Athanasiou
authors.forename: Dimitrios I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Fotiadis
authors.forename: Lampros K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Michalis
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Serruys
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends