title: OCT for the identification of vulnerable plaque in acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: After 2 decades of development and use in interventional cardiology research, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has now become a core intravascular imaging modality in clinical practice. Its unprecedented spatial resolution allows visualization of the key components of the atherosclerotic plaque that appear to confer "vulnerability" to rupture-namely the thickness of the fibrous cap, size of the necrotic core, and the presence of macrophages. The utility of OCT in the evaluation of plaque composition can provide insights into the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome and the healing that occurs thereafter. A brief summary of the principles of OCT technology and a comparison with other intravascular imaging modalities is presented. The review focuses on the current evidence for the use of OCT in identifying vulnerable plaques in acute coronary syndrome and its limitations.
authors: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Cardiothoracic Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors: Hannah
authors: H
authors: Sinclair
authors: Cardiothoracic Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Bourantas
authors: Cardiothoracic Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Bagnall
authors: Cardiovascular Research Foundation, New York, New York.
authors: Gary S
authors: GS
authors: Mintz
authors: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Cardiothoracic Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Electronic address: vijay.kunadian@newcastle.ac.uk.
authors: Vijay
authors: V
authors: Kunadian
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
keywords: acute coronary syndrome; coronary artery disease; intravascular imaging; optical coherence tomography; percutaneous intervention