title: Intra-coronary imaging modalities.
abstract: The use of intracoronary imaging modalities has seen a significant increase over the past decade, as both imaging quality and delivery systems have improved. Generally accepted best practice indications for using intracoronary imaging include assessment of lesion characteristics prior to stent placement, optimization of stent placement with respect to appropriate sizing, adequate apposition, and expansion and exclusion of edge dissection. Intracoronary imaging plays a particular role in the setting of contemporary left main and bifurcation stenting. Stent interrogation using intracoronary imaging to exclude mechanical causes in the management of in-stent thrombosis has also become conventional. Current clinical guideline recommendations, however, have lagged behind contemporary practice patterns and the use of intravascular ultrasound only carries a class IIa recommendation in the appropriate clinical setting. We discuss the currently available intracoronary imaging modalities and their applications, including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), and review the data supporting their use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina, 6037 Burnett-Womack Building, 160 Dental Circle, CB 7075, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7075, USA.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jigar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaul