Characterization of coronary arterial plaque

Excerpt

Our understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction continues to evolve in concert with the development of new and better means for assessing these abnormalities. Imaging has had a central role in improving our ability to recognize, characterize and successfully treat coronary artery disease. Cardiac catheterization with intra-arterial coronary angiography allowed development of the entire field of surgical and percutaneous coronary revascularization and thrombolytic therapy. The diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of ECG stress testing was vastly improved by the addition of concomitant nuclear or ultrasound imaging. The use of metabolically active tracers allowed better understanding of coronary artery disease at the cellular level, just as sophisticated ultrasound and magnetic resonance tools have revealed many of the mechanical, structural and hemodynamic alterations resulting from coronary artery disease. …