Detection and Quantification of Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque Using Different Imaging Modalities

The behavior and composition of coronary atherosclerotic plaques are ultimately responsible for the threat of acute ischemic events in patients with coronary artery disease. Different imaging modalities have been developed over the last several years in order to better characterize the atherosclerotic plaque and attempt to predict those in peril of complication. Recent advances in imaging modalities, including invasive and non-invasive studies, have allowed us to examine the histological components that comprise these plaques. Specific information such as variations in temperature, plaque stiffness and calcification level is currently being researched as well as biological and chemical markers. Since vulnerable plaques cannot be identified by stress testing or angiography, new modalities such as intravascular ultrasound, intracoronary thermography, intravascular palpography, optical coherence tomography, intravascular radiation detection, magnetic resonance imaging, radionucleotide imaging, and spectroscopy are under investigation. In this paper we consider to analyze and compare the Atherosclerotic Plaque detection methods.