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 |