Imaging of the atherosclerotic plaque: how accurate a predictor of coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in industrial countries. Thus, the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in terms of the presence of atherosclerotic lesions within the coronary vessel wall is of paramount importance in clinical cardiology. This chapter will discuss the potentials and limitations of current imaging modalities in predicting coronary artery disease.