ABSTRACT
Current evidence suggests that understanding coronary artery disease extends beyond identifying and treating traditional risk factors. Progression of coronary plaque contributes to the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In this article, we reviewed current literature for modalities to image coronary plaque as well as discussed the role of emerging techniques that can improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of ACS.
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) encompasses the clinical spectrum of unstable angina (UA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Most ACS are precipitated by luminal thrombi within coronary arteries, which may arise from 3 different atherosclerotic plaque morphologies: plaque rupture, plaque erosion or calcified nodules.
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