Progress in atherosclerotic plaque imaging

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Medical Imaging
• Atherosclerosis Research

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, primarily due to arterial obstruction from rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques.
• Conventional imaging methods often fail to identify vulnerable plaques as they may not cause flow-limiting stenosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and emerging imaging modalities for assessing atherosclerotic plaque morphology and biology.
• To highlight the diagnostic potential of various imaging techniques in identifying unstable atherosclerotic lesions.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and nuclear imaging.
• Inclusion of intravascular applications of these imaging modalities.
• Review of clinically available and upcoming methodologies, considering invasiveness, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Various imaging modalities offer specific diagnostic potential for characterizing atherosclerotic plaques.
• Intravascular applications provide detailed insights into plaque features.
• Emerging techniques present challenges in clinical translation regarding efficiency and cost.

Conclusions:

• Advanced imaging techniques are essential for detecting vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, which are critical for preventing myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke.
• A comprehensive understanding of the capabilities and limitations of different imaging modalities is necessary for clinical application.
• Further research is needed to overcome challenges in the clinical translation of novel imaging methods for atherosclerosis.