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Updated: Nov 29, 2025
Retrograde Perfusion and Filling of Mouse Coronary Vasculature as Preparation for Micro Computed Tomography Imaging
Published on: February 10, 2012
The role of intracoronary imaging in translational research
Nicholas J Montarello1, Adam J Nelson2,3, Johan Verjans1,2,4
1Department of Cardiology, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia.
Insights
Advanced intravascular imaging like IVUS, OCT, and NIRS offers detailed views of atherosclerotic plaque. These techniques improve understanding of coronary artery disease progression and guide treatments for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a major global health issue, driving morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.
- Understanding plaque microstructure and its molecular underpinnings is crucial for disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of advanced intravascular imaging modalities in coronary atherosclerosis.
- To highlight the insights gained from these imaging techniques regarding disease natural history, risk stratification, and therapeutic guidance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as standalone or hybrid modalities.
- Focused on vessel wall-based and endovascular imaging for comprehensive plaque visualization and characterization.
Main Results:
- These imaging modalities enable accurate measurement of temporal changes in vessel wall and plaque characteristics.
- Provided enhanced appreciation of coronary artery disease (CAD) natural history and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
Conclusions:
- Intravascular imaging plays a vital role in evaluating therapeutic interventions and guiding percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
- Continued advancement and application of these imaging techniques are essential for combating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Abstract:
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a key public health concern worldwide and leading cause of morbidity, mortality and health economic costs. Understanding atherosclerotic plaque microstructure in relation to molecular mechanisms that underpin its initiation and progression is needed to provide the best chance of combating this disease. Evolving vessel wall-based, endovascular coronary imaging modalities, including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), used in isolation or as hybrid modalities, have been advanced to allow comprehensive visualization of the pathological substrate of coronary atherosclerosis and accurately measure temporal changes in both the vessel wall and plaque characteristics. This has helped further our appreciation of the natural history of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), evaluate the responsiveness to conventional and experimental therapeutic interventions, and assist in guiding percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Here we review the use of different imaging modalities for these purposes and the lessons they have provided thus far.
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Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...