The role of optical coherence tomography in vascular medicine.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging imaging modality that provides high-resolution, microstructural information on atherosclerotic plaques in biological systems. Intracoronary OCT can identify thin-cap fibroatheroma and other vulnerable plaques that may be responsible for acute coronary events. These characteristics make OCT helpful in guiding coronary management and interventions, including stent apposition and early identification of procedure-related complications. OCT is being assessed for its potential role in carotid plaque characterization and in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial atherosclerosis. Its current use in studying carotid and cerebral vasculature and in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial diseases is limited and ill defined, but it is finding increasing application in these areas. Its performance can be further improved by increasing the signal to noise ratio and by using dynamic focus tracking techniques. It can potentially be used to monitor the progression and regression of atherosclerosis in the coronary, cerebral and peripheral vasculature. New indications for its use in vascular medicine are emerging as its technology continues to improve over time.