Table 1.
Imaging modalities to detect high-risk features of atherosclerotic plaque
| High risk plaque feature | Optical imaging | Ultrasound scan | CT | MRI | PET |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vessel stenosis or occlusion | OCT | Duplex ultrasound scan | CT angiogram | MR angiogram | - |
| Thin fibrous cap | OCT | - | - | - | - |
| Large necrotic core | OCT, NIRS | IVUS, virtual histology | Centre-line arterial reconstruction | T1 weighted high intensity plaque imaging | - |
| Angiogenesis and intraplaque haemorrhage | OCT | Duplex ultrasound scan, IVUS, contrast enhanced ultrasound | - | T1 weighted high intensity plaque imaging, αvβ3 targeted paramagnetic particles | 18F-MISO, 18F-Galacto-RGD |
| Subclinical plaque rupture | OCT, NIRS | Duplex ultrasound scan, IVUS | - | T1 weighted high intensity plaque imaging | Novel fibrin and platelet targeted biotracers |
| Glycolytic activity | - | - | - | - | 18F-FDG |
| Macrophage infiltration | OCT | - | - | USPIO | 18F-DOTATATE, VCAM-1, 11C-Choline, 18F-Choline,11C-PK11195 |
| Microcalcification | - | - | - | - | 18F-Sodium Fluoride (NaF) |
IVUS, intravascular ultrasound; NIRS, near infrared spectroscopy; OCT, optical coherence tomography; PET, positron emission tomography; USPIO, ultrasmall paramagnetic particles of iron oxide.