[Thermography: a hot trail in the search for the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque?]

Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques are characterised by a large lipid core and a thin fibrous cap infiltrated with activated inflammatory cells. Heat is a cardinal sign of local inflammation, and atherosclerotic lesions display thermal heterogeneity, with increased temperature being correlated with inflammatory cell density, unstable clinical presentation, and unfavourable outcome after percutaneous interventions. Thermography is a promising new technique for assessment of atheroclerotic plaque composition.