The Histopathology of Angiographic Chronic Total Coronary Artery Occlusions Ñ Changes in Neovascular Pattern and Intimal Plaque Composition Associated with Progressive Occlusion Duration.

The current study describes the histopathology of angiographic chronic total occlusions including residual lumen patency, intimal plaque composition, patterns of neovascular channel formation, intimal plaque calcification, and cellular inflammation, analyzed according to occlusion duration and intimal plaque type (fibrocalcific vs. lipid laden vs. mixed). Histologic findings are related to previously described clinical and angiographic predictors of successful chronic total occlusion revascularization.