Implantation and imaging of coronary stents.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) often is supplemented by the insertion of stents to prevent closing of the coronary arteries. This article reviews types of coronary stents and discusses the role that diagnostic imaging plays in their correct placement and determining their patency following implantation. The four primary diagnostic techniques used to image coronary stents--angiography, ultrasound, computed tomography and angioscopy--are discussed, along with the advantages and limitations of each.