Intravascular ultrasound: questions and answers

Abstract

Coronary angiography is the gold standard for the detection of coronary artery disease, but it only gives information about the lumen of the coronary arteries. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has provided a new perspective for imaging the coronary arteries. It allows assessment of not only the lumen but also the vessel wall and atherosclerotic plaque. In this article, we review the technique, measurements and current applications of IVUS imaging of the coronaries in a question-answer format.