title: A Review of Intravascular Ultrasound-based Multimodal Intravascular Imaging: The Synergistic Approach to Characterizing Vulnerable Plaques.
abstract: Catheter-based intravascular imaging modalities are being developed to visualize pathologies in coronary arteries, such as high-risk vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques known as thin-cap fibroatheroma, to guide therapeutic strategy at preventing heart attacks. Mounting evidences have shown three distinctive histopathological features-the presence of a thin fibrous cap, a lipid-rich necrotic core, and numerous infiltrating macrophages-are key markers of increased vulnerability in atherosclerotic plaques. To visualize these changes, the majority of catheter-based imaging modalities used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) as the technical foundation and integrated emerging intravascular imaging techniques to enhance the characterization of vulnerable plaques. However, no current imaging technology is the unequivocal "gold standard" for the diagnosis of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. Each intravascular imaging technology possesses its own unique features that yield valuable information although encumbered by inherent limitations not seen in other modalities. In this context, the aim of this review is to discuss current scientific innovations, technical challenges, and prospective strategies in the development of IVUS-based multi-modality intravascular imaging systems aimed at assessing atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: NIH Resource Center on Medical Ultrasonic Transducer Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Tzung K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hsiai
authors.affiliation: NIH Resource Center on Medical Ultrasonic Transducer Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA kkshung@usc.edu.
authors.forename: K Kirk
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Shung
mesh_terms: D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*
keywords: atherosclerosis; high frequency ultrasound; intravascular ultrasound; multimodal imaging