| Technology | Resolution | Fibrous cap | Lipid core | Inflammation | Calcium | Thrombus | Detection |
| IVUS | >100 µm | + | + | – | +++ | + | Gross plaque morphology and dimensions. Remodelling |
| Angioscopy | 100 µm | + | ++ | – | – | +++ | Plaque surface visualisation |
| OCT | 10 µm | +++ | +++ | ++ | +++ | + | Detailed morphology, including fibrous cap, macrophages |
| Thermography | 500 µm | – | – | +++ | – | – | Surface temperature |
| Spectroscopy | – | + | ++ | ++ | ++ | – | Chemical and tissue characteristics |
| Intravascular MRI | 160 µm | + | ++ | + | ++ | + | Gross plaque morphology and structure |
| Angiography | 1 µm | – | – | – | + | + | Essentially, a luminogram to detect stenosis |
IVUS, intravascular ultrasound; OCT, optical coherence tomography.