title: Intracoronary optical coherence tomography: a review of clinical applications.
abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a light-based technology that provides very high spatial resolution images. OCT has been initially employed as a research tool to investigate plaque morphology and stent strut coverage. The introduction of frequency domain OCT allowing fast image acquisition during a prolonged contrast injection via the guiding catheter has made OCT applicable for guidance of coronary interventions. In this manuscript, the various applications of OCT are reviewed, from assessment of plaque vulnerability and severity to characteristics of unstable lesions and thrombus burden to stent optimization and evaluation of late results.
authors.affiliation: aCardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital bImperial College, London, UK cDepartment of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zivelonghi
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghione
authors.forename: Kadriye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kilickesmez
authors.forename: Rodrigo Estevez
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Foin
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Ranil
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ribichini
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vassanelli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Mario
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional