Intracoronary optical diagnostics current status, limitations, and potential.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), is a novel intravascular imaging modality analogous to intravascular ultrasound but uses light instead of sound. This review details the background, development, and status of current investigation using OCT, and discusses advantages, limitations, and likely future developments. It provides indications for possible future clinical use, and places OCT in the context of current intravascular imaging in what is a rapidly changing field of investigation.