ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The central diagnostic goal of contemporary coronary arterial imaging is to completely visualize the coronary artery tree, to understand the anatomy, and to recognize and characterize pathologic findings. Beyond the diagnostic role, imaging is used to plan and execute treatment using the recognition and quantification of a variety of vessel and lesion features prior to interventions. The therapeutic planning goals are to develop an equipment strategy for each lesion to be treated. Likewise an imaging strategy is developed before interventions that allows for a working view to provide real-time visualization during the procedure. Finally, at the completion of the intervention, coronary imaging is used to confirm and quantify the therapeutic changes to the coronary arteries and detect any complications.
