This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Grube, E. Articles by Fitzgerald, P. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Grube, E. Articles by Fitzgerald, P. J. Related Collections Cardiovascular imaging agents/Techniques Catheter-based coronary interventions: stents Coronary imaging: angiography/ultrasound/Doppler/CC

(Circulation. 2002;106:2409.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Images in Cardiovascular Medicine

Intracoronary Imaging With Optical Coherence Tomography

A New High-Resolution Technology Providing Striking Visualization in the Coronary Artery

Eberhard Grube, MD; Ulrich Gerckens, MD; Lutz Buellesfeld, MD; Peter J. Fitzgerald, MD PhD

From the Department of Cardiology/Angiology, Heart-Center Siegburg, Siegburg, Germany (E.G., U.G.), and the Center for Research in Cardiovascular Interventions, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif (L.B., P.J.F.).

Correspondence to Eberhard Grube, MD, FACC, FACA, FSCAI, Director Department of Cardiology/Angiology, Heart-Center Siegburg, Ringstr. 49, 53721 Siegburg, Germany. E-mail GrubeE@aol.com

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT; LightLab) is a catheter-based technology producing images from backscattered "echoes" similar to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), but using high-bandwidth light sources (infrared light). This new technology provides ultra-high resolution for endovascular visualization. In comparison to common IVUS imaging, OCT enables optimal plaque identification, detection of thin tissue structures (eg, re-endotheli- alization, dissections) and remarkable visualization of stent strut features. The case presented illustrates the 6-month follow-up examination after drug-eluting stent implantation for the treatment of in-stent restenosis (stent-in-stent) (Figure 1). Because of the high resolution, OCT provides striking visualization of both the doubled stent layer and neointimal proliferation after drug-eluting stent implantation (Figures 2 and 3).

View larger version (157K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. PRE, Left anterior descending artery high-grade in-stent restenosis. POST, Angiographic result after drug-eluting stent implantation (stent-in-stent). 6-month FU, Angiographic 6-month follow-up without recurrent in-stent re-narrowing.

View larger version (172K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. IVUS imaging of a stented region. This image shows a typical visualization of the luminal border, vessel layers, and bright presentation of stent struts without precise detection of neointimal proliferation.

View larger version (182K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. A, OCT imaging of a stented region. Focusing on the inner vessel layer, OCT illustrates a very thin neointimal area at follow-up, as well as the doubled stenting markedly discriminating each stent strut. B, Segment magnification demonstrating the high resolution of OCT.

The editor of Images in Cardiovascular Medicine is Hugh A. McAllister, Jr, MD, Chief, Department of Pathology, St Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and Texas Heart Institute, and Clinical Professor of Pathology, University of Texas Medical . . . [Full Text of this Article]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. J. Tearney, S. Waxman, M. Shishkov, B. J. Vakoc, M. J. Suter, M. I. Freilich, A. E. Desjardins, W.-Y. Oh, L. A. Bartlett, M. Rosenberg, et al. Three-dimensional coronary artery microscopy by intracoronary optical frequency domain imaging. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. Img., November 1, 2008; 1(6): 752 - 761. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]