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Table 1 Histological features of vulnerable plaque - ability of invasive imaging modalities in identifying vulnerable plaque characteristics.

From: Focus on the research utility of intravascular ultrasound - comparison with other invasive modalities

Criteria for defining a vulnerable plaque

Intravascular imaging modalities

Major Criteria

IVUS, IVUS-RF

OCT

Angioscopy

NIRS*

IV-MRI*

Active inflammation

-

+

-

-

-

Thin fibrous cap

++

+++

++

-

+

Lipid core

+++

+++

-

++

++

Disrupted plaques

+

+++

++

-

-

Stenosis > 90%

+++

+

-

-

++

Minor Criteria

     

Superficial calcified nodule

-

++

-

-

-

Yellow colour on angioscopy plaque

-

-

+++

-

-

Intraplaque haemorrhage

-

+

-

-

-

Endothelial dysfunction

-

-

-

-

-

Positive remodelling

+++

+

-

-

++

  1. IVUS, intravascular ultrasound; RF, radiofrequency analysis; OCT, optical coherence tomography; NIRS, near infrared spectroscopy; IV-MRI, intravascular magnetic resonance imaging. Methods' ability to identify vulnerable plaque characteristics is graded as: unable (-), low capability (+), moderate capability (++) and high capability (+++). The evaluation of the methods that have not been used in clinical practice (indicated with *) was based on the in vitro and ex vivo studies.
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Cardiovascular Ultrasound

ISSN: 1476-7120

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