Experience with the Multimodality Near-Infrared Spectroscopy/Intravascular Ultrasound Coronary Imaging System: Principles, Clinical Experience, and Ongoing Studies

Abstract Coronary near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a catheter-based imaging technique that can reliably detect lipid core plaques in the coronary artery wall. NIRS has now been combined with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in a single catheter. The combined NIRS/IVUS instrument provides all the information obtained by IVUS and adds lipid detection by NIRS. The instrument can detect large lipid core plaques that are at increased risk of causing periprocedural myocardial infarction during stenting. Preliminary data indicate that NIRS/IVUS imaging can identify vulnerable patients and vulnerable plaques associated with increased risk for spontaneous adverse cardiovascular events. Multiple ongoing studies are in progress to determine if NIRS/IVUS imaging can enhance the prediction of coronary events.
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - Category: Radiology Source Type: research