title: [Optical coherence tomography of coronary arteries--a novel intravascular imaging modality].
abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the latest intravascular imaging modality for the investigation of coronary arteries. It can be used in patients with stable coronary artery disease as well as in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Its almost microscope-like resolution of 10-20 μm (10-times greater than intravascular ultrasound) gives us the most detailed insight into the coronary artery wall in vivo so far.Optical coherence tomography can be used for accurate qualitative and quantitative assessment of stenoses in stable coronary artery disease and accurate guidance of percutaneous coronary interventions as well as accurate postprocedural control. In patients with acute coronary syndrome it can be used for the detection of culprit of the culprit lesion (vulnerable plaque) which allows the operator to cover not only angiographically tightest stenosis (angiographic culprit lesion, caused in most cases by thrombus only) but most importantly the vulnerable plaque, which led to the acute event, as well. Furthermore, optical coherence tomography allows accurate assessment of thrombotic burden, stent apposition/malapposition, edge dissections and tissue prolaps or thrombus protrusions throught stent struts, etc.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Kardiologie, Medizinische Klinik I, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universitätsmedizin Rostock.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mrevlje
authors.affiliation: Institut für Kardiologie, Jagiellonian Universitätsklinik Krakau, Polen.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Legutko
authors.affiliation: Institut für Kardiologie, Jagiellonian Universitätsklinik Krakau, Polen.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jąkała
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für internistische Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinik Ljubljana, Slowenien.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noč
authors.affiliation: Institut für Kardiologie, Jagiellonian Universitätsklinik Krakau, Polen.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dudek
authors.affiliation: Herzklinik Ulm.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Birkemeyer
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Kardiologie, Medizinische Klinik I, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universitätsmedizin Rostock.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aboukoura
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Kardiologie, Medizinische Klinik I, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Universitätsmedizin Rostock.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nienaber
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; D012008:Recurrence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015607:Stents; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*