Peer Reviewed
Perspectives

New imaging modalities in coronary artery disease

Vikas Thondapu, Peter Barlis
Abstract
Cardiac imaging remains one of the most powerful tools in the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease. Novel imaging modalities are expected to further enhance diagnosis and treatment of coronary atherosclerosis.
Key Points
  • There is a growing focus on characterising coronary lesions beyond angiographic features.
  • Coronary computed tomographic angiography is a noninvasive imaging technique traditionally used to identify anatomically significant coronary lesions and coronary anatomy before surgical intervention.
  • Advances in catheter-based intracoronary imaging techniques now offer unprecedented views of coronary anatomy and pathology.
  • Optical coherence tomography has provided a deeper understanding of plaque morphology, progression of atherosclerosis and poststenting outcomes.

    Picture credit: © Sgurbuzel/iStockphoto (Coronary angiography).

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