Objective Optical coherence tomography is a new intravascular imaging method with a high resolution of approximately 10 μm. This study aims to examine quantitative optical coherence tomography (OCT) derived measurements intermediate coronary stenosis from quantitative coronary angiography (QCA).

Methods 240 patients with coronary intermediate stenosis by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and underwent OCT assessment of the lesions artery. The results from QCA and OCT were compared using unpaired t-test. Multiple regression analysis was performed. The latter of MACE was significantly lower than that by QCA detected.

Results A total of 118 stenotic coronary lesions were classified as intermediate by QCA. Subgroup of the plaque was analysed, OCT could estimate the fibrous cap thickness, and it was 122±24.7 μm), the reference segment diameter was 3.06±0.12 mm), the minimum luminal diameter was 1.94±0.12 mm). The minimum luminal area was 4.8±1.17 mm²). At 12 months of clinical follow-up, 8 patients was found to have MACE. It was much lower than QCA group.

Conclusions In patients with angiographically intermediate lesions, the frequency of severe stenosis detected by OCT were high, indicating that angiography underestimated the severity of stenosis. This unique resolution of OCT suggests that it may be well suited for identifying vulnerable plaques in patients at risk. Optical coherence tomography is a feasible imaging modality in patients and allows us to identify quantitative plaque characters, such as fibrous cap, vulnerable plaque.