Image-based modeling for better understanding and assessment of atherosclerotic plaque progression and vulnerability: data, modeling, validation, uncertainty and predictions.
Medical imaging and image-based modeling have made considerable progress in recent years in identifying atherosclerotic plaque morphological and mechanical risk factors which may be used in developing improved patient screening strategies. However, a clear understanding is needed about what we have achieved and what is really needed to translate research to actual clinical practices and bring benefits to public health. Lack of in vivo data and clinical events to serve as gold standard to validate model predictions is a severe limitation. While this perspective paper provides a review of the key steps and findings of our group in image-based models for human carotid and coronary plaques and a limited review of related work by other groups, we also focus on grand challenges and uncertainties facing the researchers in the field to develop more accurate and predictive patient screening tools.
School of Biological Sciences and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA. Electronic address: dtang@wpi.edu.
Dalin
D
Tang
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Roger D
RD
Kamm
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA; China Information Tech. Designing & Consulting Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 100048, China.
Chun
C
Yang
Mallinkcrodt Inst. of Radiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Jie
J
Zheng
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Gador
G
Canton
Cardiovascular Division, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Richard
R
Bach
School of Mathematical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
Xueying
X
Huang
Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
Thomas S
TS
Hatsukami
Department of Cardiology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Jian
J
Zhu
Department of Cardiology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Genshan
G
Ma
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation, NY, NY, USA.
Akiko
A
Maehara
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation, NY, NY, USA.
Gary S
GS
Mintz
Deparment of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Chun
C
Yuan
D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D035501:Uncertainty
Atherosclerosis; Fluid–structure interaction; IVUS-based modeling; MRI-based modeling; Vulnerable plaques