In vivo imaging techniques for non-invasive atherosclerotic plaque detection

抄録

Vulnerable plaques in atherosclerotic lesions cause acute myocardial infarction and stroke. Therefore, detection of high-risk, vulnerable plaque is important for risk stratification and to provide early treatment. Plaque vulnerability is characterized by the large size of the lipid-rich atheromatous core, the thin fibrous cap, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells such as macrophages, although intimal thickening is observed in both vulnerable and stable plaques. Several imaging approaches have been applied to detect vulnerable plaques; however, quantification of plaque inflammation is necessary to predict the risk of plaque rupture. Recently, clinical trials to detect atherosclerotic lesions with molecular imaging technologies have been settled out. Furthermore, optical imaging probes are receiving much attention as a promising candidate for vulnerable plaque detection due to its easy-to-use properties.Herein, several examples of the atherosclerotic plaque imaging methods would be introduced, and the capability of optical imaging for vulnerable plaque detection would be discussed.