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Table 1 Advantages and drawback of Intra vascular ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and high resolution trans thoracic echoacardiogram for the coronary artery investigation

From: Status and potential clinical value of a transthoracic evaluation of the coronary arteries

Method

Advantages

Drawbacks

Intra Vascular Ultra Sound

High spatial resolution

Invasive nature

Wall thickness measurement

Three layers coronary artery

Characterization of the vulnerable plaque

Availability

Safety wall vizualization

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Wall thickness measurement

Low spatial resolution

Characterization of the vulnerable plaque

Technically challenging (cardiac and respiratory motion, small size and non linear course of the coronary vessels)

Magnetic resonance angiography

Safety

Low availabitity

High cost

High Resolution Trans Thoracic Echocardiogram

Wall thickness measurement

No visualization of the entire coronary arteries

High spatial resolution

No characterization of the vulnerable plaque

Doppler information

Availability

Need for a good acoustic window

Safety

Artifact if calcification

Low cost