ABSTRACT
Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease of the vessel wall that occurs in the aorta and in the carotid, coronary and peripheral arteries. It has been shown that plaque composition plays an important role in the risk of plaque rupture and acute clinical complications of atherosclerotic vessel disease.1-3 Assessment of atherothrombotic vessel wall changes through non-invasive imaging techniques may enhance the understanding of the natural history and of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of atherosclerosis.This would allow for a better risk stratification of the disease, for identification and follow-up of patients at risk and for selecting appropriate therapeutic strategies.4 Therefore, imaging tools that can detect various stages of atherothrombotic disease in different vessels and characterize the composition of plaques are clinically desirable.5 Currently, a number of invasive and non-invasive imaging modalities are used to study atherosclerosis. Most of the techniques available can specify the luminal diameter and can detect stenoses, and some are able to assess vessel wall thickness and plaque volume. In this context, the ultimate goal is the non-invasive identification of the high-risk or ‘vulnerable’ plaque.6
