Intravascular multispectral optoacoustic tomography of atherosclerosis: prospects and challenges. (June 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rosenthal, Amir; Jaffer, Farouc A; Ntziachristos, Vasilis
• Is Part Of: Imaging in medicine. Volume 4:Number 3(2012)
• Page Start: 299
• Page End: 310
• Publication Date: 2012-06
• Subjects: atherosclerosis -- intravascular imaging -- molecular imaging -- multispectral imaging -- optical imaging -- optoacoustic imaging -- photoacoustic imaging -- ultrasound; Diagnostic imaging -- Periodicals; 616.075405
• DOI: 10.2217/iim.12.20
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-5205

Abstract

The progression of atherosclerosis involves complex changes in the structure, composition and biology of the artery wall. Currently, only anatomical plaque burden is routinely characterized in living patients, whereas compositional and biological changes are mostly inaccessible. However, anatomical imaging alone has proven to be insufficient for accurate diagnostics of the disease. Multispectral optoacoustic tomography offers complementary data to anatomical methods and is capable of imaging both tissue composition and, via the use of molecular markers, the biological activity therein. In this paper we review recent progress in multispectral optoacoustic tomography imaging of atherosclerosis with specific emphasis on intravascular applications. The potential capabilities of multispectral optoacoustic tomography are compared with those of established intravascular imaging techniques and current challenges on the road towards a clinically viable imaging modality are discussed.