Layer-dependent variation in the anisotropy of apparent integrated backscatter from human coronary arteries

Clinical imaging of the coronary arteries in the cardiac catheterization laboratory using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is known to display a three-layered appearance, corresponding to the intima/plaque, media and adventitia. It is not known whether ultrasonic anisotropy arising from these tissues may alter this pattern in future IVUS systems that insonify in the forward direction or obliquely. In anticipation of such devices, the current study was carried out by imaging fresh human coronary arteries in two orthogonal directions in vitro. Twenty-six sites from 12 arteries were imaged with a side-looking IVUS system, and with an acoustic microscope both radially and axially. Side-looking IVUS and radial acoustic microscopy scans demonstrated the typical "bright-dark-bright" pattern of the backscatter, with the media being significantly darker than the other two layers. Images obtained in the axial orientation exhibited a markedly different pattern, with the relative brightness of the media significantly larger than that of the intima/plaque.