title: Frequency domain optical coherence tomography to assess non-ostial left main coronary artery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of unprotected non-ostial left main (LM) imaging by frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of OCT studies performed to image lesions located in the non-ostial LM. OCT studies were analysed off-line to detect the number of artefact frames in the different LM/bifurcation segments. OCT cross-sectional images were used to assess area measures. OCT longitudinal reconstructions were used to obtain the LM length. Standard quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was used as the reference methodology. A total of 54 patients with non-ostial LM disease entered the study. The mean number of LM artefact frames was 8±10, corresponding to 19% of the total number of LM frames analysed. The percentages of artefact frames differed significantly according to the segment analysed: 43.3% proximal LM, 11.4% mid LM and 2.1% distal LM, 2.0% ostial left anterior descending artery and 0% ostial left circumflex artery (p<0.0001). All LM OCT measurements were significantly correlated with QCA measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study show that FD-OCT assessment of non-ostial LM disease is feasible and may provide high-quality imaging. OCT assessment of distal LM is more efficient than that of the proximal LM segment.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Science Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burzotta
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dato
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trani
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pirozzolo
authors.forename: Giovanni Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: De Maria
authors.forename: Italo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niccoli
authors.forename: Antonio Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schiavoni
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crea
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods