EDITORIAL

New coronary imaging techniques: what to expect?

P J de Feyter, K Nieman

University Hospital Rotterdam, Thoraxcenter Bd 410, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
PJ de Feyter, MD, University Hospital Rotterdam, Thoraxcenter Bd 410, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
E-mail: defeyter@card.azr.nl

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Coronary imaging is the ultimate challenge. During the last decade there have been great advances in this imaging technique, partly as a result of improved scanner hardware, but more because of advances in microprocessor technology

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Keywords: coronary imaging; electron beam computed tomography; magnetic resonance coronary angiography; multi-slice computed tomography

Abbreviations: EBCT, electron beam computed tomography; IVUS, intravascular ultrasound; MR-CA, magnetic resonance coronary angiography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MS-CT, multi-slice computed tomography; OCT, optical coherence tomography

Coronary imaging is the ultimate challenge for any imaging technique. This is because the coronary arteries are small (2–4 mm in diameter) and have a tortuous, complex, three dimensional course and are continuously in motion, except for a short period during mid diastole.

During the last decade we have witnessed great advances in cardiac imaging. This was partly as a result of improved scanner hardware, but more because of advances in microprocessor technology, which allow for rapid processing of extremely large quantities of data necessary for the acquisition, post-processing, and construction of hitherto unimaginable, non-invasively obtained images of the coronary lumen and plaque.

This raises two important questions. Firstly, has progress in non-invasive coronary imaging techniques gone so far that conventional invasive diagnostic coronary angiography has become redundant? Secondly, are these new imaging techniques capable of detecting which coronary plaque is stable, unstable or vulnerable?

Magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MR-CA), . . . [Full text of this article]

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